Wyplatanie wikliny 2019

Lech Jankowski made this drawing, Wyplatanie wikliny, out of graphite, in what looks like a very intuitive way. I love how the repetitive marks in the background create a sort of meditative rhythm. The figures, rendered with such sensitivity, seem to emerge from this sea of lines. See the way the graphite is layered, almost woven, giving the piece a tangible texture. The artist’s hand is so present in the work, creating a feeling of intimacy, like we're peering into a very private world. The phrase “Wyplatanie wikliny,” written between the figures, is the key – weaving with willow branches. It speaks to the practice of artmaking itself; the way we weave together ideas, emotions, and materials to create something new. And the figures themselves are like these woven strands, connected yet separate, caught in the act of creation. Like Forrest Bess, Jankowski embraces the ambiguities of image making, which opens our minds.