Exhibition date & place
Od 6 August 2018
to 18 August 2018
WARSAW
Godziny otwarcia:
Monday - Friday 11am - 7pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Jarosław Modzelewski
The sketches presented at the exhibition do not revolve around any particular topic; they do not come from a specific place. They present “snapshots”, fleeting perceptions that have been sketched, and often constitute a starting point for later paintings. They are connected by the curiosity of the artist, his observations and even voyeurism of the reality, and the surprising scenes which arise out of it. The places and events presented by Modzelewski are shown in all their simplicity, in all their modesty and inconspicuousness.
During his studies, at the time of the unusual popularity of expressionist stylistics, Modzelewski was classified by many critics as one of the New Wild Ones, although he emphasised back then that he wipes off all the stains he makes with a piece of cloth. Modzelewski, as a Gierowski’s student, assumes that the painting must be well-composed and well thought-out. In the works of his teacher, he particularly valued such features as order and discipline. His work is an expression of respect for the idea of good skills, taking into account the importance of a correct composition, well thought-out arrangement of space and light.
It is possible to identify in his works certain stages, the world created on his early canvases and sketches is simplified and subjected to synthesis, while his latest works are an expression of longing for detail. This change was a consequence of the decision to abandon oil paints for the use of egg tempera, created independently by the artist. The paint dries quickly, is matt and leaves a trace of artistic gesture, his brush stroke and its hardness. At the same time, due to its specificity, it cannot be made “for a rainy day”, it cannot be corrected or painted over, so the artist using this technique must be able to predict what and how he wants to convey with specified means. Sketches which always precede the creation of a painting can prevent mistakes and help search for the perfect solution. They are also an expression of the artist’s meticulousness and his need to explore the subject, reach the idea of the phenomenon, as well as to his own expectations regarding his work. Sketching in the artist’s perception is the recording of signals emitted by the surroundings, recording “on the go” what moved and fascinated the artist at that moment. Sketches, rarely photographs, precede paintings, but they cannot be regarded as his inferior or less important artistic output. Modzelewski simply said that although painting is his favourite medium, it is at the same time something a tedious and laborious process. The process of working out and reaching the idea, achieving the compatibility with it on canvas requires much work done on paper with a pencil, allows for analysis, corrections and changes. Reaching the desired results can take as long as a few years, even though the painting is engraved in the artist’s mind and imposed in a way on him; the painting needs to be constantly elaborated upon through drawings.
The starting point for Modzelewski are always phenomena and events observed on a daily basis, but by simplifying forms and removing details – they are an attempt at synthesising and making the greatest possible generalisation, thus reaching the essence of each phenomenon. That is why each scene, each landscape captured by Modzelewski is filled with serenity and harmony. However, combining the careful observation of reality and preserving the snapshots of it in connection with the workshop virtuosity and artistic creation creates the impression of unreality and mystery. Modzelewski’s artistic output is regarded as “purified”, reduced to the essence and arbitrariness, but the artist himself stresses that he does not perceive the latter as a flaw because “it gives a chance for some order in front of his eyes” (quoted after: Marta Tarabuła, Świat z różnych stron. O malarstwie Jarosława Modzelewskiego [The World From Different Perspectives. On Jarosław Modzelewski’s paintings], [in] Jarosław Modzelewski, Obrazy 1977-2006 [Paintings 1977-2006], [ed.] Jan Michalski, Krakow 2006, p. 33)
Modzelewski began painting still lifes at the end of the 1990s, at a time when Polish art was opening up to novelties coming from the West, based on the use of new media, as well as on the attitudes contesting the existing social, political and institutional order. This genre demanded from the artist, a watchful and direct observation and closeness to portrayed objects. The subject of the painting which is undertaken by students of the Academy of Fine Arts often against their will is, in the case of Modzelewski, an indispensable step in the stylistic evolution and the role of the watchful viewer chosen by him. However, unlike the academic exercises, Modzelewski’s still lifes are not arranged, they are observed and belong to the closest and at the same time the most intimate surroundings, usually the artist’s studio in Golków and Nieporęt.
Modzelewski’s work as counter-reaction can be seen as a personal dialogue with traditions that at that time were considered anachronistic, as a need to face what is considered obvious and evident. Marta Tarabuła wrote that Modzelewski’s work can be defined as “existential realism” and as such is “typical painting of the middle – it is impossible to accuse him of epigonism, neither does he have revolutionary ambitions. However, if one day we manage to temporarily turn our eyes away from the international scene and if – as during the interwar period – we will want to define the characteristics of the “national style” typical of our times, Modzelewski may turn out to be an important point of reference” (ibidem, p. 10)
Browse Lots (30)

1
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Nitka, Meschnik and I", 2018, 2018
watercolour, pencil/paper, 21 x 29.7 cm
Price:
3,500 PLN

2
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Broniewski", 2014, 2014
charcoal/paper, 42 x 43.5 cm
Price:
4,000 PLN

3
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Fish sorting", 1998, 1998
pencil/paper, 29.7 x 40.5 cm
Price:
3,000 PLN

4
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Fish sorting, Malonow", 1991, 1991
pencil/paper, 29.7 x 40.5 cm
Price:
3,000 PLN

6
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Sketch - study of dusk", 2018, 2018
watercolour, pencil/paper, 28.4 x 21 cm
Price:
3,800 PLN

7
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Drawing for painting 'Szopa nocą'", 1997
pastel/paper, 22.7 x 31.5 cm
Price:
4,000 PLN

8
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Unfinished house", 1998, 1998
pencil/paper, 29.7 x 40.5 cm
Price:
3,000 PLN

9
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
'Palace of Culture and Science', 1982
charcoal/paper, 49.5 x 63.5 cm
Price:
4,800 PLN

10
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"House by the water", 2006, 2006
watercolour/paper, 21 x 29.7 cm
Price:
3,800 PLN

11
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Kazimierz by the Vistula river", 2017
pencil/paper, 21 x 29.7 cm
Price:
2,400 PLN

12
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Boat by the shore", 2003, 2003
pencil/paper, 29.7 x 21 cm
Price:
2,400 PLN

14
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Zeranski Canal", 2008, 2008
pencil/paper, 21 x 29.5 cm
Price:
2,000 PLN

15
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Westerplatte", 2014, 2014
pencil/paper, 21 x 29.7 cm
Price:
2,800 PLN

17
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Sketch to painting 'Still life with dirty speakers''", 2001, 2001
pencil, tempera/paper, 21 x 29.7 cm
Price:
3,500 PLN

18
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"After Holy Communion", 2008, 2008
pencil, tempera/paper, 42 x 59.5 cm
Price:
4,000 PLN

19
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Games on the balcony", 2005, 2005
pencil, crayon/paper, 21 x 29.7 cm
Price:
3,000 PLN

20
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Gdansk Bay / Parson on The Roof", 2016
watercolour/paper, 21 x 29.7 cm
Price:
3,500 PLN

21
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Crimean motif", 2014, 2014
pencil/paper, 21 x 29.7 cm
Price:
2,800 PLN

22
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Descent to the abyss", 2014, 2014
pencil, crayon/paper, 21 x 29.7 cm
Price:
3,000 PLN

24
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Priest", 1985, 1985
watercolour, pencil/paperboard, 20 x 30 cm
Price:
3,200 PLN

25
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Sketches for a vase", 2018, 2018
watercolour, pencil/paper, 21 x 29.7 cm
Price:
3,500 PLN

26
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"What? The house where Sasnal lives, with what? Colours", 2016, 2016
watercolour, pencil/paper, 21 x 29.7 cm
Price:
3,500 PLN

27
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"Murek z doniczkami", 2018
pencil/paper, 21 x 29.7 cm
Price:
2,600 PLN

29
Jaroslaw Modzelewski
"What? Antagonism, with what? Animal and surroundings, 2014, 2014
pencil/paper, 29.7 x 21 cm
Price:
2,800 PLN