The character and energy of Iza Opiełka’s abstractions speak volumes about the personality of the artist herself. The multi-element compositions are based on bold combinations. The dynamics of the paintings is highlighted not only by the variety of shapes and colours, but also by the titles – “Splash”, “Green Cut-Out” or “Pink Destruction” trigger associations with movement (anybody who knows the artist will confirm that she is always on the move) or change occurring before our eyes. The artist further enhances this effect by leaving the works seemingly unfinished (in the so-called state of non finito).
The very title of the exhibition – “Crush” – can be understood in different ways. On the one hand, it addresses the relationships between the individual elements in the paintings, on the other – it is related to the emotional state of falling in love (as the artist admits, she has been in this state all her life). Last but not least, “Crush” describes the joy of creation, passion and dedication that drive the artist.
But in the case of Iza Opiełka, painting is not only an activity that lets the artist vent her energy. It is also a means of looking for ways to tame it. The artist admits that she strives after balance, both in life and in painting. That is why in her practice she often uses perfect forms, such as circles (especially in the latest paintings), which she later pierces with irregular, sharp shapes. This clash of opposites that permeates Iza Opiełka’s paintings can be understood as an attempt to organise artistic and formal issues, but also as an illustration of various challenges in life.
Iza Opiełka’s practice is first and foremost a combination of youthful energy and temperament with carefully honed skills. The paintings are expressive, but the process of their creation has little to do with impulsive action. “Splash”, for example, is not a result of spontaneous painting gestures, but of repetitive and systematic activities – from sketching and planning the perfect composition using digital tools, through the arduous work of preparing stencils and testing various combinations, to the multi-step process of applying successive layers of paint.
Although the idea for a painting is born in an intuitive way, its development is already a matter of many conscious, thoughtful decisions. The artist’s method of work is an attempt to introduce order, in the sphere of both art and private life.
Meeting with artist & Paweł Jarodzki: 27.06.2020, 5 pm
Bulwar Staromiejski, pl. Jana Pawła II, lok. nr 16, Wrocław
Press:
Vogue.pl: https://www.vogue.pl/a/cykl-wystaw-sceny-letniej-krupa-gallery