A link to Bartosz Kolata's bent spoon gallery -- a new addition to bent spoon.

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Artist Statement 

I find my inspiration in people around me, their relationships, their feelings. My paintings are like snapshots of private, unpremeditated moments which make the viewer almost voyeuristic. People take photographs of holidays, of special moments in their lives, of friends and family. I paint them. The subjects of my works are captured in everyday situations – relaxing, chatting, sunbathing, sleeping. I strive always to portray the inner state of the model. Subjects for my painting come from my life and are always connected with me, my emotions. You can find me in every person and place created on my canvases. People I pass in the street become characters in my paintings as well. They stop being anonymous because people’s faces will not leave me indifferent. There is a story behind each face.

Painting is my path through life. It is not easy and I can’t be sure if it is leading to a goal, but I think that it is a challenge worth rising to. I am not trying to change the world. You will not find in my art a direct engagement with subjects such as war or death. In my opinion there is too much blood and sadness on TV and in the media generally. I am not portraying facts; rather it is people’s reactions to them that interest me. I am not indifferent to what is going on around me. But paintings have lost their power to reform peoples’ minds. There is such a massive onslaught of cruel and violent scenes blurring the line between reality and unreality that our sensibility has been weakened. A strong message does not always require a violent image, because you can often achieve much more through gentleness. The beauty and simplicity of everyday life that you find on my canvases can restore people’s sensibility, which is fundamental.

Bartosz Kolata

CURRICULUM VITAE

Personal data

Education:
1998-2006:          Master of Fine Art –Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun , Poland 

Awards:
2007:                     I prize Irish Art Award 2007, Final and Awards Ceremony, Digital HUB, Dublin
2007:                     II prize Luas/RPA Art Competition, Dublin

Exhibitions:

17.02-17.03.2007 debut-solo exhibition The Mill Theatre Gallery, Dundrum, Dublin
09.04-27.04.2007 solo exhibition The Crow Gallery, Temple Bar, Dublin
13-14.04.2007 group exhibition Project Art Centre, Temple Bar
18-31.09.2007 Budapest Art Symposium, group exhibition XII Dictrict, Budapest
26-30.09.2007 group exhibition Ranelagh Arts Festival
20-21.10.2007 group exhibition New Communitie Expo, RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin
24.10-09.11.2007 solo exhibition in The Blue Loft Gallery, Ranelagh, Dublin
8.12.2007-7.01.2008 D21 Salon, Leipzig