The full article can be read here:
Art Lecturer, Pav Symanski, featured at international exhibition ‘Love My Body’
https://instagram.com/stories/lisagalletti____artcurator/2512442693241120088?igshid=1rccshbn777cx
ART 123 – Interview with an American Art Magazine from New York.
Al-Tiba9 – Magazine Preview on ZOOM
I have been invited by Al-Tiba9 to take part in an online preview of the new edition of their art magazine. Time: Jun 26, 2020, 14:30 Madrid
“Al-Tiba9 (الطباق) focuses on light as a manifestation of energy, a principle that makes it possible to reach the phenomenological world, an element of knowledge to achieve multiple levels of reality. This transgressive contemporary Arab show emerges between lights and shadows, human and artificial from here and there, reaching for profound hope but staying rooted in reality.“
— Mohamed Benhadj, Founder & Curator
Luca Rossinin, an Italian visual artist and fashion photographer, was a featured guest presenter. Her work was not known to me before. Her website is divided into three parts containing fashion, still life and collage. I become absolutely fascinated by her lonely, withdrawn and impactful art. Her style is original and unique and resulted in the creation of highly aesthetic and powerful images, which force a strong reflection on a viewer. They have a dream like quality and appear to visualise a world, which appears to be perhaps unreal. There are strong references to the old Dutch and Flemish masters in terms of her use of colour and chiaroscuro. Her models are withdrawn and absent minded. She is somehow questioning our perception of someone’s presence. Perhaps, her creative intentions are best summarised by her statement is below:
‘”Photography to me is not a way to document reality, but more the way in which I can suspend reality, with all its physical and societal rules, and turn everything into my dream of it. I love working with complex lights and low light, both in studio and in the open. My favourite subjects are portraits which tell dream-like stories; places which seem daydream scenarios; and surrealistic concepts created in my studio.
My view over the world has been seriously affected by “dreamers” like David Lynch, David Cronenberg and Federico Fellini, with their ability to transmit the distinct and uncomfortable feeling of not being really awake.
I come from the analogue days of the dark room, but my stylistic growth is very digital. I spent most of my life struggling to confine my artistic nature, so I achieved a PhD in biomedical engineering. It didn’t work, nothing works, there’s no cure against the urge to create and communicate, I guess.”
Artoze.Global – Featured Artist
I am absolutely thrilled for my work to be selected to be printed in June’s edition of the Artoze.Global magazine. I am also published as a featured artist.
60cm; (h) 85cm Description: This is a portrait of a young, beautiful and idyllic-looking Haitian girl playing with butterflies. I met her during my travels through Haiti, where most people survive on less than 1$ per day. She is totally oblivious of her origin. She does not understand, why she is consistently ostracised and bullied. Her skin is white, and her eyes are baby blue. She definitively stands out! She has never heard of Poland. Her home is on a little island called Petit Goave. She is a descendent of Polish legionnaires, who were sent to Haiti by Napoleon to suppress an uprising of slaves. However, having realised the extent of exploration and abuse, the Poles changed sides and fought in support of the oppressed indigenous people. Subsequently, most of them were punished and slaughtered. A few lucky ones managed to disperse to the islands. Contact us @artoze.global to feature your Artwork. #artoze #feature #art #artwork #painting #story #copyright #copyrightyourartwork #painting #copyrightyourpainting #artwork #painting #story #artworkgallery #canvas #artist #artiststory #masterpiece #painting #dubaiartist #dubaipaintings #virtualgallery #abstractart #fineart #artstory #artistsoninstagram #covid19ARTOZE – Submission of Portfolio
I have submitted my portfolio to be published and showcased by Artoze. The confirmation screenshot is below:
‘Ahole Art Magazine’ – May Edition
My work has been selected to be featured in this month’s edition of this publication.
I have enclosed a screenshot of the confirmation email below:
ArtMaze Mag Submission.
I have composed a long summary of my achievements and practice. The purpose of this was to create a submission for the ArtMaze Mag. I have attached a confirmation screenshot below:
Art Foundry Magazine
I have just been interview by Jasmine Meekings. She is one of the editors of the Art Foundry Magazine. This quarterly publication comments on a broad range of developments and complexities in the contemporary creative world. It contains several exciting interviews with artists from all-over-the-world and interprets their work and achievements.
The transcript of the interview is below:
- What is your contribution to the Virtual Summer Exhibition 2020 and what has motivated you to create this body of work?
Normally, we hold an end-of-the-year exhibition at the Gallery at South Devon College. Due to the pandemic, we were forced to move to the online learning environment. To make this event even more meaningful and exciting, I have reached out to a wide range of artists from all-over-the-world and a selection of former students. This has helped to elevate the prestige of this event and enable it to be viewed by many more people across different international boundaries, locations and time zones.
All staff have also been invited to exhibit their work to create a sense of cohesive artistic community. I will be taking part in the Virtual Summer Show and present my recent paintings and video work. These pieces were developed in response to my long-term research project based on exploring human responses to hypnotic repetition. I have gathered a broad range of primary sources from my travels. The most significant work was produced in consequence of my experiences in Haiti, Azerbaijan, Thailand and Myanmar.
2. What has your response been to COVID-19 as an artist? Has it affected your practice or how you operate?
The current lockdown has given me a chance to reflect on both my practice and the research findings. Subsequently, my present observations contradict the former status quo. The repetitive and mundane existence of people, who genuinely struggle with their survival has become something they yearn for. The nightmare of the past is now a desired dream for the future.
Paradoxically, the crisis has had a very positive and broadening impact on my visual exploration, journey of thought and understanding of the human tragedy and challenges.
3. What would you say is the role of an artist during this pandemic? Furthermore, what would your message be to other artists during this time?
The role of an artist is to develop a response to the broader contexts and visualise a subjective interpretation of the world. The pandemic encourages everyone to become creative and substitute access to unlimited resources with ideas, invention and a deep reflection.
Therefore, ‘the artist’ should be seen as a commentator and a sensitive observer of the dynamics within the turbulent and ever-changing contemporary society.
We are all very privileged to be able to watch history being made and recorded for posterity.
This exhibition will be an authentic document of a unique set of circumstances, hopefully not to be repeated anytime soon.
Pav Szymanski
painter
HYPNOTIC REPETITION 