lekcja oddyychania 2022

Editor: This is "lekcja oddyychania," or "breathing lesson," a mixed-media painting by Lech Jankowski, created in 2022. It's quite abstract, but the title gives me pause. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, I think about the role of art in reflecting on personal and societal anxieties, especially in contemporary works like this one. The confined, almost claustrophobic space created by the painting’s structure might allude to the feeling of being trapped or suffocated. Editor: So you're interpreting the composition as representative of broader feelings? Curator: Precisely. Post-pandemic, many artists are exploring themes of isolation and restricted movement, physically or mentally. Does the visual texture--almost granular in appearance--reinforce a feeling of unease, perhaps a metaphor for a polluted environment affecting our breath? Editor: That's interesting! I was so focused on the formal aspects I didn't think about broader contexts. Curator: The placement of these dots adds another layer. The intentionality in artmaking is essential; they could perhaps symbolize pollutants, highlighting a crucial conversation around ecological anxieties prevalent today. Does knowing all of this affect your reading? Editor: Absolutely. I see it less as an abstract composition and more of a commentary on our present ecological condition. Curator: It seems like Jankowski invites viewers to ponder our societal anxieties through symbolic representation and reflection, contributing to ongoing discussions. What do you take away from our little discussion? Editor: How societal anxieties are often mirrored, sometimes amplified, in art and artistic choices! Thank you.