Today I'm handing to you a vast catalogue in which I present my over 20-years' artistic oeuvre. It contains some of the very early works, but also the most recent ones, still 'fresh'.
Oil paintings are a large part of this presentation. There are also drawings and graphics. Looking back from the perspective of all these years of studying, work and life struggle,
I can say today that my works are an attempt of capturing the subsequent phases
of my inner transformation on canvas or on paper.
It is also an answer to the evil
that is still rooted in human hearts.
Through my paintings I also express the need
of becoming a free and independent human being - a person who constantly makes choices between the good and evil, the truth and lie, the joy and misery, between the faith
and doubt.
Extremely important to me and my artistic work was coming across the works
of the great painters and thinkers - Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Goya,
Van Gogh, Chagalle, Malczewski, Nowosielski, Rodziński. A significant role was also played
by Father Józef Tischner's philosophy. Today, when twenty years have passed since the day I received my artist's diploma, I also see how important were to me the friendships
and studies shared with my peers at the Secondary School of Arts and ASP (the Academy
of Arts) in Kraków. Many of these friendships have lasted to this day, and often we meet
in the 'old circle' to recollect that time together, the unforgettable moments, to discuss painting, life, our happiness and sorrow. I would like to emphasise that my closest family
had the strongest influence on the subjects and shape of my works. For many years
I have been bothered by the question: "Which values do I desire to present to the viewers of my works?" I think that allegories of the basic values can be found in my paintings
- of love, freedom, faith. Often, using the landscape of my homeland I show the world close to the human being. The evil world that brings misery, doubt, egoism and the good
one - filled with hope and love, because humanity constantly has to make a choice.
I have been brought up in the Christian tradition, in the love of God, human and nature. Through my activity, and not only the artistic activity, it is this tradition that I would like
to pass on to other people, especially the young, searching for positive values in life.
As my biggest success I perceive meeting the Holy Father John Paul II, when I gave him one of my paintings titled 'Self-portrait with family in the third millennium'. I invite all the people who in my works find the world close to them to come to Spytkowice, where in 'Rusnakówka' estate I present my paintings in a constant exposition.
Czesław Rusnak |
