10 Haare (Selbstbildnis mit Dauerwelle) 2018

Lech Jankowski created this work, 10 Haare (Selbstbildnis mit Dauerwelle), from materials that include paint, and possibly plaster. The artwork's rough hewn, blocky form is at odds with the traditions of painting. The work is incredibly small, just 7 x 5 cm, so the effect is intimate. Jankowski has layered the paint quite thickly, building a heavily textured surface which is in places seemingly distressed. A portrait of a stern looking figure, the paint handling suggests wear and age. The combination of painting and sculpture creates a fascinating tension. The act of layering and sculpting the paint transforms it into a medium that goes beyond representation. This challenges our perception of value in art, emphasizing the artist's labor and the transformative potential of everyday materials. The choice of plaster as a base could allude to the history of sculptural practices, while simultaneously subverting it through its integration with painting. This way, Jankowski blurs the boundaries between the traditions.