Dimensions: 73 x 92 cm
signed, dated and described on the reverse: 'C5 | BEKSIŃSKI | 2002'
Exhibited
private collection, Poland
Biography
Born in 1929 in Sanok, photographer, graphic artist, illustrator and painter. He studied at the Faculty of Architecture of the Cracow University of Technology. In the late 1950s, he worked as a stylist-artist in the Department of the Chief Constructor of the "Autosan" Factory. He began his artistic activity as a photographer. In 1957 formed an informal group: Beksinski, Lewczynski, Schlabs, which was active until 1959. The last exhibition of the artists took place at the Deutsche Gesselschaft für Photografie in Cologne organized by Otto Steinert.
From 1957 to 1963, Beksinski was a member of the Union of Polish Artists and the Union of Polish Artists Photographers. In the late 1950s and early 1960s he referred to Reiner Maria Rilke's poetry and existential content. The artist's photographic oeuvre has been preserved at the National Museum in Wroclaw and plays a representative role in 20th century Polish photography. The artist's main model was his wife Zofia Beksinska. The initial depiction of women's beauty began to evolve into experimental photography using bandages or string, as in "The Sadist's Corset."
In the mid-1960s, he broke with popular avant-garde thought and largely began to devote himself to painting. He claimed that modern art was receding into the background, and that attention was being drawn to the search for synthesis in contradictory directions. This led to the seeds of postmodern thought. He also created sculptures from plaster and metal, referring to the work of Henry Moore. Beksinski's work was popularized by an exhibition organized by Janusz Bogucki in 1964, at the Old Orangery in Warsaw. The exhibition was guided by the idea of Beksinski's contradictions and the juxtaposition of innovation and traditionalism. From the late 1960s to the early 1970s, Far Eastern motifs appeared in his work. Works from the 1980s are characterized by the interweaving of Baroque and 19th-century motifs with a strong erotic accent. They were referred to as "dream photography." In the 1990s, he began to introduce computer graphics applied to works based on a private collection of photographs.
The artist, who died tragically in 2005, is highly regarded outside Poland in South Korea, Japan and the United States. His works are in numerous museums and galleries in Poland, including Sanok (the richest collection of the artist's works), Warsaw, Krakow, Czestochowa and Wroclaw. He is the only Polish artist whose works have been exhibited at the Japanese Art Museum in Osaka.
The artist was associated with Piotr Dmochowski-an enthusiast of Beksinski's art and his art dealer. The first exhibition organized within the framework of the cooperation took place at the Valmay Gallery in Paris, in the fall of 1985. The exhibition gained significant publicity. Then in 1989-96 Piotr Dmochowski opened an art gallery in France dedicated to the artist's works. Marszand speaks of the artist's art as amazement and love at first sight when he and his wife visited the Warsaw Art Exhibition Office.
The life and art of Zdzislaw Beksinski is a phenomenon that far exceeds the circle of art lovers - it can be considered part of pop culture. The artist and his family inspired the creation of many excellent books, monographs, catalogs, etc. In 1964, the first film dedicated to the artist "Photoplasticon" was made, directed by Pyotr Andreev. In 2016, a film directed by Jan Matuszyński "The Last Family" was made, which won many awards, including the Silver Leopard for best actor - Andrzej Seweryn. In 2017 the documentary "Beksinskis. A Videophone Album" directed by Marcin Borchardt and a short film "Pars Pro Toto" by Katarzyna Lelecka. In addition, there was a performance directed by Jerzy Satanowski "Beksinski. Untitled Image", as well as a dance and music show directed by Agnieszka Glinska - Art Color Ballet "KRYPTONIM 27". Beksinski's influence extends even to the fashion world. In 2017, English Vogue published photos from the fall/winter show at London Fashion Week. It featured designs by award-winning Polish designer Joanna Berling, whose show was inspired by Beksinski's work. In 2021, the Bytom brand created a collection in cooperation with the Historical Museum in Sanok. The artist's works appeared on blouses and jackets. Japanese designer Yoji Yamamoto became interested in Beksinski's paintings and created collections for the autumn-winter 2022/2023 season. The Beksinski Foundation, established in 2006, is also active. The foundation's goal is to promote the artist's work, and the Historical Museum in Sanok with the largest collection of the artist.
