Krzysztof Urbaniak - Sen trzeźwych elektromechaników i jednego tłumacza

Krzysztof URBANIAK
Year of birth: 1980
An artist who paints with words
A break from reality painted with words
My paintings are a theater of imagination – situations I found myself in, conversations I conducted, meetings I explained. The images arise in a place where many cultures meet: Polish, Alsatian, French, German, and Swiss, and in many languages: Polish, French, German, and English. The title of a painting is in the language in which I am thinking at the moment it appears in my mind.
My artistic creation began at the moment I learned to read. Words, quotes, song lyrics, associations related to the past, present and future, memorized fragments of cabaret performances – everything related to the word paints my images. “The word at the beginning” – just as a line begins every drawing and painting. Many paintings are inspired by the words of song lyrics.
I am self-taught.
Education
I studied drawing and art history with Professor Joël LEBRA; my passion for art history was passed on to me by Professor Mariusz Karpowicz, William Kurtyka taught me how to look at paintings and encouraged me to pursue artistic work.
Philosophy
Every painting is accompanied by a description and analysis. Every painting begins with words spoken by me, or by my interlocutors. Around them, form, shape, color, line thickness, etc., are built. The lines that appear in the paintings connect into a loop, enabling one to get lost while viewing the painting and allowing analysis after reading the text, which is an integral part of it.
Music is often associated with the paintings, which I propose listening to while viewing the artwork.
Reading and speaking are natural activities. It is also natural to break with reality, which I enable for the people looking at my paintings. The stories told in the paintings are true – REALITY PROVIDES MORE EMOTIONS THAN FICTION. Sometimes improbable. The person looking at my paintings has the opportunity to lose themselves and find themselves again. The person reading the painting’s description has the opportunity to find themselves while looking, to get lost and to find themselves again.
Technique
Acrylic on canvas, acrylic on paper, ink on paper, collage, mixed media.
Inspiration
I am inspired by the words spoken by people, words written, translated and untranslatable, images, sculptures and buildings created by people, including among others Dadaists, Dariusz Orwat, the Bauhaus movement, Annie Albers, Le Corbusier, Jean Tinguely, Hans Arp, Niki de Saint Phalle.
Previous exhibitions
March 2024. Exhibition of paintings at Domaine du Hirtz, Wattwiller, France.
May 2025. Exhibition in the City Hall of Pfastatt, France.
June 2025. Exhibition during the charity event “Two Hearts,” Strasbourg, France.
July and August 2026. Poland (Polanica-Zdrój) France (Mulhouse). Many locations, including the Pieniawsko Gardens and Art Café in Polanica-Zdrój, Mediateka in Pfastatt and the Le Coin des Delices restaurant in Moosch.
September 2026. Exhibition Regards croisés (Crossed Gazes) in the Saint-Etienne church, Mulhouse, France.
ARTISTIC CONCEPT
I paint with words; the form of the painting, its shapes and colors are planned before painting. This stems from the impossibility of making corrections once painted. The concept of the paintings rests on a line that forms a loop. The line does not cross itself at any point. I chose a loop because it symbolizes the repetition of cycles in nature, of which I am a part. Cyclicality is embedded in human beings. The number of words available in each language is limited; we use about 1,500–2,000 words for free communication, and words and letters repeat cyclically, but each time in a different context.