Pawel Waldemar Pawlas (1944-2000), "Love of Heaven for Earth," 1993

oil, panel, 75.5 x 50.5 cm,
signed l.d.: 1993 / P.W. Pawlas.
On the back author's description: Tashism / Love of Heaven to Earth / Triptych / Sandof , and a sticker of the Colours of Silesia Collection.

For 10 years he worked in the mine "Wieczorek" in Katowice - Nikiszowiec as a miner. He trained weightlifting in the sports club "Szopienice" and won the title of vice-champion of the Silesian junior in this discipline. As a result of surviving an accident underground (he witnessed the death of a miner, and saved another by carrying him into a shaft) he became ill with schizophrenia. Painting was an element of therapy for him. He created paintings with vivid saturated colors and simplified, expressive, often dramatically distorted forms, referring to the paintings of Soutine, Picasso or the German Expressionists. The artist's works have been presented at many group exhibitions, including in Nakło Slaskie, Ruda Slaska, Gliwice, and are in the collection of the Silesian Museum in Katowice.