PIOTR BUTKIEWICZ (born in 1966)
Butkiewicz obtained his education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław. He graduated in 1991 in the sculpture studio of prof. Leon Podsiadły. He practices painting and sculpture. His artwork was presented in individual exhibitions in Poland and Europe (Gallery Bell’ Arte, Berlin, Gallery OmaHoune, Helsinki, Kreismuseum, Ludwigshafen and many others). Butkiewicz participated also in the movie project of A. Żmijewski “A souvenir from Cellulose”.

“My painting is an attempt to tame and transform the surrounding reality into my own. For many years I dealt mainly with landscape – with its mood, light, variability. For almost ten years, it has been evolving towards less concrete forms, narratives built in the language of free gesture, abstractions and actions freed from the dictates of reason. The subjects that I undertake, as well as the painting process itself, are usually intimate, e.g. relationships of forms, delight, eluding, breathing, depth.

I want painting to be something liberated and separate from the hard reality, it could be a counterweight to it.

In general, I do not specify my expectations before starting painting – neither regarding its course nor the final effect, except maybe one thing: that it should be something that will completely change me, my life and everything around.
The specificity of painting consists, among others, in its separation from the verbal message, escaping established theories and criteria, playing with everything, while still remaining yourself.
My painting is a way to discover yourself, it doesn’t have to be smart or have any particular purpose.

I am for completely free painting, I am even for liberating painting from art.”

Piotr Butkiewicz

www.tylkosztuka.pl.