Others about me
Witold Sliwinki’s glass art. Matter, light and magic.
Witold Sliwinski’s glass art exhibition at the local art gallery in Lodz held on 28 September – 03 November 2018 has been stunning in every way, mainly due to nature of the material which artist uses. For most viewers glass is still a very mysterious matter, the transformation of hot liquid glass is almost magical quality. Realization of an “alchemical” nature of this transformation supported by the chiaroscuro effects results in gallery space taking almost metaphysical shape. Witold Sliwinski’s unique compositions fitted into the programme of “Light. Move. Festival” in natural way. The artist contrasts different artistic qualities by combining glass with metal and stone. Colourful layers of the glass art varies in thickness, transparency and shine, treated with light flux reveal their new features. The light shining through and reflecting off the glass art become a source of unique effects and allows the artwork to be seen in many different ways. In “Re:Medium” gallery it looked like theatre scenography when all the sculptures were modified with constantly changing light. Tangibility of solid matter combined with light and colour phenomena gave dramatic contrast with the feeling of pulsation and elusiveness. The gallery windows were illuminated in the way that passers by had a feeling there’s no line between exhibition and outdoor public spaces. The multitude of visual impulses and Variety of forms, abstract and surreal, based on fantasy and those inspired by nature shaped like sophisticated organic form, worked on viewers imagination. Artist’s imagination, workshop proficiency supported with enormous sense of shape, structure and colour resulted in surprising qualities. All this directs our attention to further possibilities and changes in glass art status.The local art gallery director in Lodz dr Dariusz Leśnikowski
I have met Witold Śliwiński fairly recently, during my short stay in Krosno. Witek invited me to his company, where he designs his sculptures and other works dedicated for various events, ceremonies or totally private orders.
He showed me his projects, realizations, and technical background which he has at his disposal. I’m very impressed with how many forms came from the hand of Witek and how many ideas may emerge and be carried out in his company!
All this shows his great potential, and most importantly, his hard work and consistency that is reflected in his glass objects!
artist Stanisław Borowski
http://galeria-borowski.pl/artysci
„Glass weather”
Once, and perhaps as a result of a downturn in the areas of artistic experiments in which he had been so active before, he began to get interested in glass, its matter and production process engineering. Then he discovered completely new techniques and skills which, as he expected, could blend and combine with those he had experienced so far. He found a new area of artistic exploration, fresh and fascinating, which created numerous opportunities of formal experimentation and personal discovery.
Glass, as it is viewed by Witold Śliwiński, enriches the very definition of sculpture. Its specific features and immanent, or intrinsic typology is summarised by its fragility and transparency, coupled with certain plastic and crystal-like properties, leaves the use of colour open to the staining of glass, be it opalescent, flat or for purely decorative effect. This range of techniques is so artistically viable and broad-based that it gives a possibility of opening large areas for creative development.
(Sztuka Podkarpacia t. III, str. 174 – 177)
http://www.podkarpackazacheta.pl
”A Country of Opportunity in the Epoch of Self-Fulfilment
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His works displays a wide range of his achievements through the years of persistent artistic search, experimentation, and the whole variety resulting from his immense and industrious work. With the photographic works of art, it gives a more comprehensive image of the creative artist. It shows the source of his unique ability to experience the outside world, his sensitivity to form, matter, light, colour and texture, as well as highlighting the root of all his impressions, inspirations and premonitions.”
artist Zbigniew Hübsch
http://www.bwa.rzeszow.pl/hubsch-zbigniew-antoni,168.html
In my eyes, Witold Śliwiński is an author who effortlessly employs many materials in his art. At the beginning he worked with glass, then he embraced other materials such as stone, cast iron, bronze, or chromium and nickel. Combining these raw forms of stone or sophisticated blocks of glass, metal or wood, he achieves magnificent plastic effects.
Creating geometrical, or even almost fantastical, compositions, he does it with great sense of color and shape, achieving original forms. He continues to develop this ease in composing plastic systems and in combining multiple materials, and he enriches it with new experiences. This is just the beginning of his creative way, because he keeps reaching for new solutions. He experiments with materials that are ordinary to most artists. Śliwiński gives a new meaning to simple rocks he sometimes finds in a river,and that allows him to create objects that are interesting and gripping in their aesthetics.
I am looking forward to his future exhibitions with curiosity.
sculptor artist Maciej Syrek
http://www.bwakrosno.pl/strona-138-maciej_syrek.html
Whilst observing the artistic ways of Witold Śliwiński, an artist who consistently embodies his passion for and fascination with sculpture and glass as an art medium, we can easily find the direction
and understand a typical definition of his creative approach.
The variability of formal experiments, inspiration and curiosity about the nature of glass, the confrontation between its qualities and those of different materials, has a value of unassuming and selfless artistic play, as well as finding new aesthetic qualities.
If so, the emotions involved are to be new, though – it is worth saying – that the works of art created recently do not pretend to be symbolic and as a result they do not refer to contents from outside art’s domain. As such, they do not refer directly to objective truths. Even if they do, they emphasise the qualities and truths which are intrinsically contained in the medium features and by releasing them they bring about a shift in the senses. As the works of art mentioned are very sensual by nature, their effect is paradoxically enhanced by the aesthetics of non-objective designs featuring strongly geometrically disciplined forms. Thus, they are regarded as more than just abstractive works of art, which – thanks to their originator’s sensitivity and imagination – are given new life with which he identifies in the act of creation, and which is testament to his identity.
painter Piotr Wójtowicz
http://www.bwakrosno.pl/strona-146-piotr_wojtowicz.html
I met Witek a dozen years ago under very mundane
circumstances. I was just out of college and I needed a horizontal glass grinder, commonly known as „szajba”. Someone gave me the idea to call Witek and ask him for help. It worked out and in this way our relationship, and then cooperation, continues until today. For many years I have watched how Witek’s work, overcoming various stylistic-thematic meanders, develops, evolves, and gains individual features, which I value a lot. Particularly, I took a liking in his simplest, purest, a bit industrial forms which combined perfect workmanship with the sense of proportion, colour, form and material.
It’s very interesting how inspiring for Witek are seemingly „ordinary” things – a ball from a bearing, a screw, a piece of waste glass or a stone pulled from the nearby river Jasiołka. Seemingly ordinary shapes determine the Artist and inspire him to look deep into his sculptures to find new artistic and technological solutions.
Two years ago, me and Witold decided to host an exhibition of his works in my gallery in Wrocław.
The exhibition was called Sex Machine and was a part of the European Glass Festival. It received unanimous acclaim and met with great interest from glass collectors. This in turn opened the door for Witek to other art galleries in Poland and abroad.
Of course, were it not for Witek’s ability, hard work and honesty, our acquaintance wouldn’t last so long. That’s why I think that everything happens for a reason and I hope Witek’s artistic career will consist of many more highlights in the form of awards and good exhibitions!
artist Patrycja Dubiel
www.versusgaleria.com/pl/o-mnie/