Kruki 

Kazimierz Mikulski’s collage, Kruki, which translates to "Ravens," uses paper and cardboard to create a surreal composition with striking imagery. Born in Poland in 1918, Mikulski's life and art were deeply influenced by the tumultuous events of the 20th century, including the Nazi occupation and the subsequent communist regime. The collage layers diverse images such as a raven perched on a classical figure, moths, musical staff lines and a rooster. The juxtaposition of classical and animal motifs creates a dreamlike quality which might be said to reflect a sense of displacement and fragmentation. In Polish folklore, ravens are often seen as symbols of ill omen, or harbingers of change. Their prominent presence here suggests a commentary on transformation, perhaps born from Mikulski's personal experiences. Mikulski once said his works, populated by unsettling creatures, came from, "a need to depict the world as I see it." Mikulski’s juxtaposition of potentially dangerous and symbolic images invites us to confront the complexity of identity, history, and the artist's personal narrative.