My social media feed coughed up something wonderful today: an introduction to Polish-born political art satirist and philosopher Paweł Kuczyński.
I’ve spent a lovely hour scrolling through his images, each conjuring a new story, perspective, and point of view. After my first run-through, I noticed a pattern.
I was drawn to images showing smartphones, particularly GOOD MORNING, in which we see a man getting out of bed and stepping into slippers drawn as phones. Or SHARKS, where a man floating on an inflatable bed while reading is surrounded by shark fins that turn out to be, yes, smartphones.
The second grouping I noticed featured images of books, like EATING TIME – a young woman reading from a book with a baby on her lap. The baby is sucking on the corner of the book. Or TV AND BOOKS where a chap brandishing a TV remote is about to bash a guy walking through a library reading a book.
My favourite though is ANCHOR – a man, in a boat, on his laptop with the power cord extended through a window and plugged into a wall.
That’s me.
I could be in that boat.
I’ve weaned myself off my phone. I’ve begun leaving the house without it and not feeling at all panicky at the thought of being out of contact. I put it on silent, forget that I’ve done it, and not notice for hours. Checking my phone is no longer the first thing I do in the morning or the last thing I do at night. And it’s liberating.
My laptop, though, that’s another story.
I can’t bring myself to go away overnight and not take it with me. I can’t even go to the city for the day without it. I’m anchored to it.
Like yer man in the boat.
I put it down to the fact that it’s how I make my living. I need to know if work has come in and if it has, I need to have access to do it. I’m getting better at managing other people’s expectations in that I no longer feel the need to reply immediately. Or over the weekend. Or in the evening. It’s been a long process but I am getting better at it.
When I read that Kuczyński was a satirist, I had to double-check to make sure I fully understood the meaning of the word. It’s one of those terms I know without knowing-knowing, if you know what I mean.
Satire: the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
In an interview with SFG media, he says that satire isn’t about making people comfortable. It’s the opposite. And what a good way to force us to reinterpret what we do.
In another interview, this time with Fluster Magazine, he was asked what or who his biggest inspiration is.
The reality is so twisted, crazy and absurd, that it is rather hard to compete with it.. and this reality gives me inspiration. I just try to honestly draw my observations.
I love art. I know sod all about it, but I love it. I love that it allows reflection and offers room for perspective.
I am incredibly grateful to all the artists whose works grace my walls and to the millions more I’ve yet to discover. Like Kuczyński, you make the world a brighter place.
PS. All images mentioned can be seen by clicking on Paweł Kuczyński. Let me know if you have a favourite.
PPS. I did email to ask if I could use this image but got no response 🙁
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2 responses
I had many favorites as I scrolled through the images. But the one that has held me most is ‘Iceberg’.
Am with you on the ‘many favourites’