oil, canvas pasted on wood; dimensions: 12 x 25 x 6 cm; signed and dated on reverse. 'Bujnowski 99' | 'SOZ.III 1010 /2020'.
Rafał Bujnowski's "Bricks" series is one of the most iconic achievements of Polish conceptualism, in which the artist performs a radical identification of the painting with the object. By superimposing dense painting matter with the color and porosity of ceramics, the canvas ceases to be a mere representation and becomes almost the physical equivalent of a building detail. This masterful play with trompe l'oeil aesthetics raises questions about the boundaries between art and craft, and about the seriality and objectivity of painting. Balancing on the intersection of pop-banalism and minimalism, these works are collectors' prized manifestos of an analytical approach to the painting workshop.
Rafał BUJNOWSKI (b. 1974)
Painter, graphic artist and author of artistic actions, considered one of the most interesting analysts of the painting medium in Polish contemporary art. A co-founder of the legendary Ładnie Group (alongside Wilhelm Sasnal and Marcin Maciejowski), in his mature work he has moved away from ironic "pop-banalism" in favor of rigorous minimalism and conceptualism. His works, often realized in series (including the famous "Framed Paintings" and "Night Painting"), are a study of the limits of perception and the materiality of the image, balancing between figuration and almost complete abstraction. As a recipient of the prestigious Jan Cybis Award for 2018, Bujnowski has confirmed his position as an artist exploring the ontology of the artwork - from the objectivity of the image-object to the processual nature of laying down a color stain. His works are included in major public collections such as the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, the Sprengel Museum in Hanover and the Rubell Family Collection in Miami, making him one of the most internationally respected Polish artists of his generation.
