Niebioskości 2 2020

Curator: Looking at Lech Jankowski’s acrylic painting from 2020 entitled “Niebiosko\u015bci 2,” or "Celestial 2," what is your first impression? Editor: Immediately, I feel drawn into a liminal space. The textures evoke stone, and the light…it reminds me of early Byzantine icons, that sense of the numinous. The composition is deceptively simple. Curator: Deceptively is right. Jankowski's work, particularly his “matter-painting,” is invested in pushing the boundaries of the painted surface itself. Here we have a work very much of its time, engaging with the tradition of abstraction, which emerged significantly in the post-war era, with influences as diverse as architecture and material culture. The way that influences artistic institutions and their promotion of artistic ideals. Editor: Exactly, and that makes this space compelling! It looks geometric yet fluid, especially how those rounded forms dissolve. The colour choices, while limited, carry a psychological weight, suggesting maybe solemnity and transcendence, though they may appear stark. Curator: It’s interesting that you pick up on "transcendence", because despite its geometric forms and stark colour palette, one cannot deny this almost ethereal feeling. Editor: What I love about the geometric and abstract qualities is they serve as potent, universal symbols. Here we get something archetypal about enclosure, about transition. Think of Jung's work on the symbolic representation of the self through the architecture of one’s house and what’s considered inner versus outer. Curator: A concept visually striking to the viewer, the painting becomes a social arena; that allows us to ask not only questions of “what?” but "why?" of art's presence. Editor: Right. This image invites viewers to experience something deeply rooted in cultural memory. To contemplate this image allows for further understanding. Curator: An image for modern culture, I agree!