Black Still Life 

Iwo Zaniewski's "Black Still Life" is created using oil on canvas, an approach with a long and established history. But rather than embracing the medium's traditional potential for vibrant color, Zaniewski pushes it towards near-monochrome. The layering of dark pigments creates a dense, almost impenetrable surface. Look closely, though, and you'll see subtle variations in tone and texture. The artist coaxes a surprising range of effects from the limited palette. The composition is traditional, featuring a table with commonplace objects: a vase, a cup, a teapot. These could easily appear in a typical still life. The darkness, however, evokes something more somber. It brings to mind the labor involved in the painting process, and a sense of quiet contemplation. The work challenges our expectations of painting, questioning conventional boundaries between beauty, craft, and fine art.