art project questioning reoccurrence and ritual as a distraction to the uncertainties of tomorrow
Author: pavszymanskiart
Current research issue - Hypnotic Repetition
Pav Szymanski
Painter
Biography:
I am a fine art painter and video artist with 30 years of experience. My current research project is based on creating visual responses to my observations of people, who are suspended in the vacuum of hypnotic repetition. I have travelled the world interviewing and recording individuals, who genuinely struggle with their existence in the context of their survival. I have gathered substantial primary sources and evidence from destinations across the globe. Perhaps, the most significant research findings were from Haiti and Myanmar and resulted in the production of the most spectacular paintings. They have inspired me to develop new and innovative ways of working and experimenting with image making, which are appropriate to the subject. They combine the best of traditional achievements and the power of contemporary thinking and deep reflection.
I work full time as a programme coordinator for Art & Design at a large institution offering a broad range of FE and HE qualifications. I am also an external examiner for the UAL and AQA.
Artist Statement:
Through my projects I feel that I discover my inner fears, longings and re-evaluate my uncertainties. My work seems to be an attempt to explore and question by metaphorical presentation my response to the hidden truths of the world. The essence of the value of these works is in their inherent meaning and an atmosphere, which manifests itself in the dusk of the space portrayed, thus the light may appear, where the hue of colour fulfils clarity and sounds with harmonious melody.
https://hypnoticrepetition.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOq7lHQlrOnKozGz95Hq2CA?view_as=subscriber
https://www.instagram.com/pavszymanski/?hl=en
https://spark.adobe.com/page/fQ9VytzHNpWq9/
Micheline lives on Madagascar – an island, which is famous for its wildlife and beauty. She is stunningly natural, pretty and used to be called a Malagasy Queen. Before the pandemic, she had a respectable job, good existence and worked as a teacher of French. Now, the dynamics changed. She is trying to rebuild her life, while looking for employment in foreign call centres. The beautiful background is a constant, but the reality can be a nightmare.
I have finally made some progress with my current piece. This breakthrough stage follows a long period of stagnation and uncertainty. Re: living my trip with Captain Ahmed and the danger of the experience of sinking on his little and crude boat has made me realise the importance of hypnotic repetition of daily survival.
I developed a screen with images of fish we both caught while struggling to stay afloat. I proceeded with a complex process of overprinting and stating each layer with ink – somehow trying to imitate the sophistication of glazing while using a range of water based media, including inks and water soluble pastels. More developments will come soon.
There are different schools of thought regarding the highest values of humanity. Some say that the phenomenon of life is absolute and unquestionable, while others argue that it is freedom. I support the latter. All our heroes fought hard, and subsequently, sucrified their lives in order to fight for liberty. This document and its philosophy supports my motivation for painting the Haitian series of images and from other countries.
I have started to introduce a range of vibrant details in the background space. The idea was to create a sense of cohesion and belonging. I have used a repetitive motif of a baobab tree, which is typically associated with this fantastic island. The current stage of the painterly process is below:
This is the first preview of my new piece inspired by Micheline. She is a French language teacher from Antananarivo. More developments will follow soon.
When reflecting on the importance of the use of colour in my work, I was trying to analyse its impact on the mood portrayed and the perception of a viewer.
As a part of this critical process, I watched a number of videos from previous exhibitions. My attention was drawn to a brief narrative by Lisa Galletti, one of art curators at the gallery. The essence of her wise words somehow summarises my inner thoughts and feeling. Perhaps, because of this incidental cohesion of views, she contacted me to invite me to take part in “Love My Body”. I was truly impressed by her spoken narrative as follows:
“Colour as a visual perception of the various electromagnetic radiations within the visible spectrum reflected by bodies.
Colour as a natural or artificial substance used as dye or paint.
What is colour for you?
Colour that causes emotion, changes your mood.
Colour is in nature; in its indefinite variations.
It is a foundation of division of the world and, at the same time, a characteristic of it.”
Lisa Galletti @madsmilano
I include an Instagram post with her final video appraisal of artwork, she was responsible for as a curator. Thank you Lisa!