Pijący herbatę na małą odległość 2019

Lech Jankowski rendered "Pijący herbatę na małą odległość" in graphite. The image is anchored by two figures engaged in an unusual act of drinking, their connection emphasized by elongated streams extending from their mouths. The act of drinking, historically and culturally, symbolizes sustenance and communion. Yet, here, the familiar is distorted. The vessels containing the tea are dwarfed by the figures, suggesting an imbalance, a disconnect from traditional nourishment. We see echoes of ancient rituals where shared drinks sealed pacts, but twisted, stretched, almost parodied. Consider the elongated necks in Mannerist paintings—a deliberate distortion to convey unease, a departure from classical ideals of beauty and harmony. The subconscious processes may play a role here. The elongated streams, resembling umbilical cords, hint at dependence, a need for connection. This image taps into our collective memory, echoing through time, resurfacing in various forms, each iteration bearing the weight of history and cultural evolution.