ARTIST STATEMENT

My paintings are the reflection of reality. I create what I see originating my ideas from the things surrounding me. Items, abstracted from the natural surroundings and realistically depicted, stand in contrast with the flat, monochromatic background. Geometrized, „architectural” compositions are supposed to evoke some sort of tension between reality and abstraction. My paintings reflect what interests me most in art – substance and construction.

 

BIOGRAPHY

JAKUB CIĘŻKI

Born in 1979 in Lublin, Poland. Over the period 1988-2003 studied at the Faculty of Arts, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) in Lublin. Graduated with honours in the painting studio of Prof. Jacek Wojciechowski. Works at the Faculty of Arts, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.

Holder of the “Young Poland 2013” award of the Minister of Culture. Grand Prix holder of 40th Painting Biennale “Bielska Jesień 2011”. His works were sold on the Sotheby’s Art Auction (November 2014). Works at the Faculty of Arts, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.

Ciężki paints specific still lifes. The industrial landscape attracts him – he has portrayed radiators, letterboxes, bath, ladders from a children’s playground, fencings, scaffoldings, roofs. Taken out of context, often presented in monochrome background they show shift from a concrete object to the abstraction. Thanks to synthetism, scaling, cropping, composition in which the dominants are rhythms, directions, energy of background, Ciężki takes back from his paintings the value of representation. Geometric and “architectural” paintings of the artist evoke tension, playing with the viewer’s consciousness, showing him what can be found under the surface of things

PRIZES & SCHOLARSHIPS

2015

President of Lublin scholarship for the year of 2015

2013

Minister of Culture scholarship-holder in “Young Poland 2013” scholarship program

2012

“Polityka’s Passport 2012” application (category: visual art)

2011

“Polityka’s Passport 2011” application (category: visual art)

President of Lublin honours for achievements in arts

40th Painting Biennale “Bielska Jesień 2011” – Grand Prix

40th Painting Biennale “Bielska Jesień 2011” – Artinfo.pl and Artluk editorial staff honours

2006

Autograph 2005 – I prize

2005

“Painting of the Year” Art&Business Competition – finalist

2004

Franciszka Eibisch’s Foundation Competition – Grand Prix

Lublin Province Marshal scholarship

Autograph 2003 – I prize of UMCS rector and II regular prize

2003

Rector’s prize for the best diploma of the UMCS Faculty of Arts

 

Works in collections of BWA Bielska Gallery and Lublin Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts, Franciszka Eibisch’s Foundation and in private collections. Sold works on the Sotheby’s Art Auction (November 2014).