In the latest exhibition at Galerie Crèvecoeur, Polish painter Tomasz Kowalski delves into the realm of "psychic archeology of light," a concept that seeks to unravel the intricate relationships between perception, imagination, and meaning. By excavating the mysteries of light, Kowalski's work navigates the tension between our present experiences and the collective memories that shape our understanding of reality.
Kowalski's paintings are akin to cinematic dioramas, frozen in a liminal space between human perception and screen-mediated experience. His use of oil, gouache, and pencil on jute creates an otherworldly atmosphere, where figures seem to drift through a hazy realm, suspended between the past and present.
The artist's fascination with light is rooted in its capacity to illuminate our perceptions, shape our understanding of reality, and capture the essence of human experience. By examining the phenomenology of light, Kowalski seeks to grasp the complexities of our existence, where perception is constantly negotiating between stability and fluidity.
In this exhibition, Kowalski stages his paintings in a worn, time-softened space that heightens their suspended narratives. The tension between reflection and fragmentation is palpable, as if the artwork exists in a state of constant negotiation with its own history and the external world.
Kowalski's work embodies a Sartrean awareness of existential weight, yet he also taps into Baudelaire's nostalgia for a fleeting escapism into poetry. This blend of opposing forces is reflected in his use of layers, where fleeting sensations, emotional reactions, and reimaginings coalesce to form symbolic meaning.
The artist's exploration of light as both a tool and an element in our exploration of reality resonates with the transhumanist dilemma we find ourselves in today. As screens and technological interfaces reshape our relationship with reflection, fragmentation, and splitting, Kowalski's work remains a powerful testament to the enduring power of human imagination.
Ultimately, Kowalski's paintings are exercises in recollecting and reconnecting with synesthetic and syncretic moments, as memories fade into the back of our minds. His work becomes an attempt to distill reality and human history into their most essential forms – a quest that echoes Bergsonian notions of duration and Jungian conceptions of recurring psychological patterns.
As Kowalski notes, "painting is a long conversation," where figurative motifs recur across cultures and centuries. It is this very conversation that his work engages with, capturing the natural gleam of energy that bodies channel when they are raw and genuine. His paintings, like vintage films or proto-cinematic dioramas, exist in a space not entirely overtaken by algorithmic elaboration but filled by the potential of mythical imagination unfolding.
In this exhibition, Kowalski's exploration of light and reality reaches new heights, confronting us with the immediacy and drama of humanity. His work remains an invitation to reflect on our own histories, cultural memories, and the essential relationship between perception and experience.
Kowalski's paintings are akin to cinematic dioramas, frozen in a liminal space between human perception and screen-mediated experience. His use of oil, gouache, and pencil on jute creates an otherworldly atmosphere, where figures seem to drift through a hazy realm, suspended between the past and present.
The artist's fascination with light is rooted in its capacity to illuminate our perceptions, shape our understanding of reality, and capture the essence of human experience. By examining the phenomenology of light, Kowalski seeks to grasp the complexities of our existence, where perception is constantly negotiating between stability and fluidity.
In this exhibition, Kowalski stages his paintings in a worn, time-softened space that heightens their suspended narratives. The tension between reflection and fragmentation is palpable, as if the artwork exists in a state of constant negotiation with its own history and the external world.
Kowalski's work embodies a Sartrean awareness of existential weight, yet he also taps into Baudelaire's nostalgia for a fleeting escapism into poetry. This blend of opposing forces is reflected in his use of layers, where fleeting sensations, emotional reactions, and reimaginings coalesce to form symbolic meaning.
The artist's exploration of light as both a tool and an element in our exploration of reality resonates with the transhumanist dilemma we find ourselves in today. As screens and technological interfaces reshape our relationship with reflection, fragmentation, and splitting, Kowalski's work remains a powerful testament to the enduring power of human imagination.
Ultimately, Kowalski's paintings are exercises in recollecting and reconnecting with synesthetic and syncretic moments, as memories fade into the back of our minds. His work becomes an attempt to distill reality and human history into their most essential forms – a quest that echoes Bergsonian notions of duration and Jungian conceptions of recurring psychological patterns.
As Kowalski notes, "painting is a long conversation," where figurative motifs recur across cultures and centuries. It is this very conversation that his work engages with, capturing the natural gleam of energy that bodies channel when they are raw and genuine. His paintings, like vintage films or proto-cinematic dioramas, exist in a space not entirely overtaken by algorithmic elaboration but filled by the potential of mythical imagination unfolding.
In this exhibition, Kowalski's exploration of light and reality reaches new heights, confronting us with the immediacy and drama of humanity. His work remains an invitation to reflect on our own histories, cultural memories, and the essential relationship between perception and experience.
I'm loving how Kowalski's art makes me feel like I'm stuck in a dream world 
. The way he plays with light is so mesmerizing, it's like we're witnessing our own personal reality unfolding on canvas 
. It's also kinda weird that his paintings are like cinematic dioramas, where the past and present blend together seamlessly 
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. He's got this Sartrean vibe going on, but also nods to Baudelaire's poetic side 
. It's like he's trying to capture the essence of human experience through light and color 
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. Kowalski's work is like a breath of fresh air in that regard – it's all about reconnecting with our memories and emotions, rather than just staring at screens 
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, i mean, tomasz kowalski's stuff is like a lucid dream or something. how he uses light to capture these emotions and feelings in his paintings is just mind-blowing. it's like he's trying to tap into this collective unconsciousness or something.
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. maybe this art show is just a manifestation of that or something. who knows? all i know is that it's definitely made me think about my own perceptions and whatnot 
. I'm thinking about how we're living in this world where our experiences are constantly mediated by screens and technology, but Kowalski's work is like a reminder that there's still this other realm out there, a world of perception and imagination that exists beyond the confines of our digital lives.
and what Kowalski does is kinda like trying to capture that feeling in art. seems like he's exploring this idea of how our memories shape our understanding of the world... anyway gotta go, just spent 20 mins reading about it 
... i mean, it's just some dude paintin' stuff with oil & gouache 
... but at the same time, i can kinda see what he's goin for 
. but do we really need to make a whole art movement out of it? 
... maybe that's the point tho? 
! The way he explores the connections between light, perception, and human experience is truly mind-blowing 
. He's got this incredible ability to capture the essence of our existence in these otherworldly atmospheres that just draw you in 
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. And I think his work is so relevant right now, especially with all the tech and screens taking over our lives 
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. He's not just talking about himself or his own experiences; he's inviting us to join in on that conversation 
. It's like, "Hey, we're all in this together!" 
. anyway, if you get a chance to check out this exhibit, do so - it's a thought-provoking journey into the human experience 
