Krzysztof Urbaniak - Zaburzenia widzenia

Krzysztof URBANIAK
Year of birth: 1980
An artist who paints with words
A break with reality painted with words
My paintings are a theater of the imagination – situations that I found myself in, conversations I conducted, meetings I explained. The images are created 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 the painting is in the language in which I think at the moment it appears in my head.
My artistic creation began at the moment I learned to read. Words, quotes, song lyrics, associations related to the past, present and the past, passages from cabaret performances recited by heart – everything related to the word paints my images. “Word at the beginning” – as a line begins every drawing and painting. Many images are inspired by the words of song lyrics.
I am self-taught.
Education
I studied drawing and art history with Professor Joël LEBRA; the passion for art history was conveyed to me by Professor Mariusz Karpowicz, William Kurtyka taught me to look at paintings and encouraged artistic work.
Philosophy
Every image is accompanied by a description and analysis. Each 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 images form a loop, allowing one to get lost while watching the painting and enabling analysis after reading the text, which is an integral part of it.
Music is often associated with the paintings, and I propose listening to it while viewing the artwork.
Reading and speaking are natural activities. It is also natural to break with reality, which I enable for the viewers of my paintings. The stories told in the paintings are true – REALITY PROVIDES MORE SENSATION THAN FICTION. Sometimes improbable. The person looking at my paintings has the opportunity to get lost 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.
Past exhibitions
March 2024. Exhibition of paintings at Domaine du Hirtz, Wattwiller, France.
May 2025. Exhibition at 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 Pieniawskie Gardens and Art Café in Polanica-Zdrój, the Mediatek 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 images with words; the form of the image, its shapes and colors are planned before painting. This stems from the impossibility of making corrections after the painting is done. The concept of the paintings is based on a line that forms a loop. The line does not cross itself anywhere. I chose a loop because it symbolizes the repetitiveness of cycles in nature, of which I am a part. Cyclicity is inscribed in a person. The number of words available in each language is limited; we use about 1500 – 2000 words for free communication, words and letters repeat cyclically, but each time in a different context.