"The Last Flight"
Artur Szolc's painting "The Flight" will be available for purchase at the forthcoming Fantasy Art auction on October 7. Artur Szolc is a painter and tattoo artist, who for years has been creating his vision of an alternative reality, in which the sugarcoated world is stripped of sweetness and looks much different. In that world, our subconscious fears, anxieties, hidden emotions crawl out to the surface. However, those images do not have negative connotations. On the contrary, the author himself jokes about the"smiling corpses", which, in his paintings, do not mean to disturb us, but make us familiar with another dimension.
"The Flight" is doubly important for the artist. It is not only because he wanted it to convey a very meaningful message, but also because his closest friend died during the creation of the work. He was the man, who mentored and guided the artist for many years. He inspired him to work and taught him not only the profession, but also how to be open to the world, people, and, especially, different views.
Artur Szolc was in the process of painting when he received tragic news about the death of his friend. It was the beginning of the year. It was death without warning. Heart attack. Grzegorz was a man who lived his life to the fullest, was filled with energy and passion for what he did. The friends met over twenty years ago, when they were still young boys.
Artur, being an aspiring tattoo artist, was very impressed with his older companion. He listened to his friend's words with the highest attention. He was the one who introduced a new way of life to the artist. Values that Artur keeps in his heart to this day are open-mindedness, tolerance, and respect for different views.
The "plane" in the picture was initially supposed to be a presentation of fascination and fear, two emotions that intertwine in us when we think about a flight. However, it was given an entirely new dimension during the process of painting and after the information about the friend's death.
Under the plane's top layer, one can see bones and tissue. Contrary to all appearances, it is not a gloomy or repulsive depiction. A peace symbol is noticeable on one of the wings. It is supposed to make us feel calm. The plane carries a positive message with its flight. It represents hope and trust that values, mutual understanding, and respect will save this world from destruction.
Below we present an excerpt from the artist's statement after his friend's sudden death:
"This is what life looks like... This morning I was full of joy and euphoria after a remarkably successful festival...
Unfortunately, the very same morning I was overwhelmed by absolutely devastating news...
My mentor BASIL, "the professor", as I used to call him, the man of the biggest heart... gone.
The person who is gone, led me over 20 years ago through the black depth of struggles, which people like me have to face, people who want to fulfill themselves in art and make their dreams come true. He never refused me help, he was strict, critical, very hesitant to praise me when I took my first steps in the art of tattooing and airbrushing.
He never told me anything on his own initiative. Why is that, you may ask? The explanation was very typical of him.
"Ask wise and relevant questions, and you will get the right answers.". I used to bug him days and nights when Maciek Kern would come and tattoo at his house. When it comes to Maciek, I was always welcomed to learn from the Master's knowledge and experience...
Later, when he moved abroad, he directed his "unfinished" clients to me. I believe it was a sign of the greatest recognition from the Master. In the recent months, our relationship seemed to be developing on a completely different level. We started to talk like equals, we sent each other works for assessment and evaluation...
I wanted him to come to my home and studio, to renew contact with the old crew... He tattooed a bit, went fishing...
We didn't succeed...
Our recent, long conversations about people, life, the situation in the world, to which we frequently had a similar attitude, will have to be continued somewhere else, in another time, in another dimension. Once again, we are going to be the scornful observers and mockers, we will laugh at ourselves, just like we did during our last conversations.
…
Goodbye Master, I promise to continue and develop everything you showed me until my dying breath. In the name of our relationships, talents, and people, as you taught me to sacrifice myself for the sake of it at any cost. I remember when you told me: "This job makes me a better person".
Today, these words resonate very loudly and powerfully.
I gave you my word that you will be proud of me.
I will keep it. You did a magnificent job in this world. I will continue what you have taught me."
