The last escape of the combs (with the help of Mr Sabbatini) 2022

Curator: Standing before us is Lech Jankowski's, "The last escape of the combs (with the help of Mr Sabbatini)," created in 2022. Editor: The texture is what hits me first, it feels melancholic; like a landscape after an environmental catastrophe, stark and muted. Curator: It's evocative, certainly. I see it as a powerful visual statement regarding collective societal failures. The combs appear as individuals, trapped within a system... their escape facilitated by Mr. Sabbatini, a figure suggesting perhaps collective action or disruption of the status quo? Editor: That’s an interesting interpretation. To me, the repeated comb motif resonates with more ancient symbols – a sort of totemic structure or perhaps even fragmented musical notation abandoned. Are we sure "combs" is the correct interpretation or are these, in essence, markers for a forgotten language? Curator: The artist's use of mixed media suggests a complex, multi-layered narrative. The textural contrast underscores the conflict: the oppressive atmosphere versus the implied promise of escape, a struggle rooted in systems of power. Considering contemporary concerns about digital surveillance, perhaps the "combs" could be construed as markers, or signals being jammed? Editor: It's possible, but I also sense echoes of much older motifs, perhaps even something resembling a primitive, broken abacus – signifying knowledge lost or corrupted, which connects with that sense of a ruined civilization. The artist's title mentions escape…Escape to what, I wonder? What are these comb-like forms seeking beyond the murkiness? Is it hope, obliteration, rebirth? Curator: The "murkiness," as you call it, visually speaks to a clouded history and unresolved contemporary power dynamics. If these figures are escaping, perhaps they symbolize marginalized voices seeking to break free from the constraints of a dominant culture. It speaks to resilience and self-determination against oppressive forces. Editor: Agreed. The composition does inspire a dual response. Hope mingles with underlying apprehension. These stark almost geometrical comb shapes rising against the misty textured backdrop are visually compelling. They are imbued with mystery that suggests meanings beyond one reading. Curator: The strength of the artwork comes precisely from these potential readings that connect on multiple planes! I’m challenged to consider the layers, both visual and contextual. Editor: And I’m left pondering those primal symbols and the continuity of hope expressed within such ruins.