Acrylic, canvas, 13 x 18 cm, Signature (obverse) upper part of the work, 2017 E. Dwurnik, reverse E. Dwurnik
The smallest format of Edward Dwurnik's works from the "Contrabassists" series, framed in a thick double frame. The double bassist is painted on a blue background. The small format makes "The Contrabassist" achievable in a reasonable budget range compared to other works by Edward Dwurnik.
Edward Dwurnik, one of the most recognizable figures in Polish contemporary art, was an extraordinary artist with international recognition even before Poland's transformation. His work, full of independence and provocativeness, won him popularity in all circles of art consumers, regardless of professional circles. His devilish sense of humor, unpredictability and volatility were encountered by both classical art lovers and artists of the youngest generation, arousing extreme reactions and stirrings. Born in 1943 in Radzymin, his artistic talent quickly began to develop during his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, where he studied painting, printmaking and sculpture from 1963 to 1970. Already at the stage of his studies, he decided to make a series of drawings and watercolors independent of the course of study, which gained recognition. Shortly thereafter, starting in 1966, he also created a series of oil paintings called "Hitchhiking Journeys," characterized by distinctive bird's-eye views of cities, which the artist continued throughout his life. In the following years, Edward Dwurnik created more than a dozen other significant series of paintings. Among them were the "Sportsmen" series (1972-1978), depicting caricatured and cartoonish characters of ordinary communist everyday life. Subsequent works were devoted to the tragic fate of people caught up in history, such as "Road to the East" (1989-1991), commemorating the victims of Stalinism, and "From December to June" (1990-1994), paying tribute to the victims of martial law in Poland. However, Dwurnik's oeuvre also included non-aligned series, such as "Blue" (1990s), abstract seascapes with no horizon, or "Twenty-fifth" - colorful abstractions made using the action painting technique. Many other series, such as "Portrait" (since the 1970s), "Workers" (1980s), "Long Live War!" (1991-1993), "Blue Cities" (since 1993), "Diagonal" (since 1996) and "Countdown" (since 1996) provide variety and confirmation of the artist's extraordinary talent. In addition to painting, Edward Dwurnik also practiced printmaking and drawing, creating both autonomous series and illustrations. The artist was particularly committed to designing monumental painting compositions in public spaces. His talent was also recognized in the world of animated film, where he created drawings and gouaches for the films "Vegetable, 360 degrees" (2007) and "Oasis" (2009), directed by Andrzej Baranski. Several documentaries have portrayed the life and work of Edward Dwurnik, which testifies to the importance he had for the art world. Edward Dwurnik lived and worked in Warsaw, leaving a unique mark on Polish and world art. His work continues to inspire, evoke emotions and remains a valuable legacy for generations to come. He passed away on 28.10.2018 in Warsaw.
