Radek Szlaga
Atlantis
January 19 – February 15, 2008
Opening: Saturday, January 19, 5.00 PM
LETO Gallery
Director: Marta Kolakowska
ul. Hoza 9c,
Warsaw, Poland
tel. ( 48 22) 499 59 16, 48 501 696 440
http://www.leto.pl
LETO Gallery is pleased to present the new paintings by Radek Szlaga. This is his first solo exhibition
at Warsaw.
Szlaga watches and listens to the Polishness with a feverish passion, without political correctness, he is commenting this with a strong sarcasm and placing in a plan of global village. He binds unrationality of the world he lives with his own single existence, like a cause with an effect. His skipping is insolent and risky. As a result of daring acts trash-paintings appear, with flattened heroes of popular culture and history in the leading role. Here are: Jacek Krzynówek (footballer) and Janosik (a polish hero), placed in an idiotic scene, talking nonsense about “what is the most important”. From the sea bottom General Sikorski is watching them — the corpse demands a revenge. German football representation (Africans, Turk, Arabian) jealously gaze at purebred Pulawska pig…
Szlaga often settles the subject matter of his paintings in moral basis, ironically introduces the sins punishement, the damnation, combat of good and right plots. He obssessively makes the subject from moral values, prophesies their decay. In the same time treats them in a sentimental way and thinks about them in aesthetic categories. He seeks moral values themselves and finds their wrecks. This time they are exceptionally beautiful, colourfull and temptating. Thrown up but still atractive and valuable.
Szlaga dives in a dustbin, deeply and unexpectedly goes under the water, he visits sink land — this is Poland I guess? Or Atlantis?
Text by Michal Lasota
Radek Szlaga born in 1979 in Gliwice.
In 2000, he studied at the Higher Pedagogical School (currently part of University of Zielona Góra) in Zielona Góra at the faculty of painting. In 2004, he was awarded a 6-month scholarship in the Prague Akademie Vitvarnych Umeni in the Czech Republic. In 2005, he graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan. Diploma work in painting titled “Malarstwo 2″ (Painting 2) under the guidance of prof. Jerzy Kalucki cum laude. Assistant to Tracey Emin at White Cube Galery. Illustrator for Tempo.mgz and Pornoffiti web magazines. Author of the Dzien Sadu (Judgement day) news-sheet near Poznan-based Arsenal gallery.
