An artist’s journey

From realism to chance

The artist Cezary Kurmiel, whose painting is a central part of his life, has created a new artwork for our outdoor gallery: a portrait of Vincent van Gogh. The piece is a result of Cezary’s experimental and spontaneous approach to painting, a development that took off after an experience during a painting job.

For Cezary, the originator of the outdoor gallery’s newest artwork, the painting is a crucial part of his life and he’s always searching for new techniques and expressions.

— I paint because I like it, but it’s also a given. I’ve realized I want to learn even more about painting, because in some ways it brings meaning to my life.

A particular experience influenced Cezary and the direction of his artistry. He had painted realistically for a long time and found it to be both boring and exhausting. But then he worked at a painting firm and painted windows.

— I really understood the essence of painting when I painted with a thick brush on the wooden frames. The paint, with its runny consistency, flowed out or stayed in a certain shape when I stopped. It was as if I was talking to the paint.

He then began to experiment with more spontaneous techniques, like pouring, splashing, or spreading out paint.

— I often mix different types of colors and let chance dictate the result. By moving away from realism and seeing and accepting eventual mistakes as a part of the artistic process, the experience is more playful and liberating, he explains.

The artwork in our outdoor gallery is a portrait of Vincent van Gogh, and to emphasize his character and artistry, Cezary placed a fragment of one of his works in the background. Cezary is inspired by other artists and their work and feels that through portrait paintings, he gets closer to the artist and sees the individual from a new perspective.

— I wanted to create an atmosphere that harmonizes with the portrait and makes it easier for the observers to connect it to van Gogh, especially since the portrait is based on a lesser-known photograph of him.

Subtopia’s outdoor gallery is a place that truly inspires and encourages artistic creation, Cezary believes.

— Painting here is a chance to be part of a creative atmosphere that gives artists opportunities to experiment, grow, and find new ways of expression. Whether it’s by brush on a canvas or through graffiti on a large wall, the goal is always to explore and create in new ways.

Our outdoor gallery is free of charge and open all year around! Do you want to try and paint on our art walls, read more. Do you want to see more of Cezary Kurmiel and his work, follow him on instagram.