Peter A. Barelkowski
Selected Works 2008 - 2013
by Introduction by Anna Stanisz
This is the price your customers see. Edit list price
About the Book
His divine ladder is unable to sustain a figure rapidly falling into an abyss. Losing its original function of hope and safety, the ladder ends up in Barelkowski’s later paintings, notably in the Father series as a symbol of a failure to connect, to communicate and to bring the world to its wholeness again. Here it floats diminished and insignificant between the figures fully engaged in a psychological conflict.
In essence, the ladder is a visual metaphor of the daunting task that Peter Barelkowski set for himself as an artist: to draw people into facing the political and social horrors that endlessly resurface in the same terrible, yet recurring, scenarios. However, no matter how eloquently presented, history teaches nothing. This tension between hope and deception is the fundamental element in the pictorial and symbolic construction of Barelkowski’s work.
About the Creator
Peter A. Barelkowski started experimenting in painting in the 70’s and in 1975 he established his first studio. His art education began with an MA from the University of Poznan and continued at Goldsmith College (Poznan, Poland), Ontario College of Art in Toronto (1985 – 1988) and less formally - in London, England ( Camden Arts Centre ) and Norway, where he was street performing for tourists during the late 70's. His work has been about human conditions like isolation and alienation. Creating a paradox between his joyful colours and darker subject matter, his paintings attempt to play with our ideas around sadness. As a form of subtle escapism, the figures in his paintings are depicted in a one dimensional, cartoonish style - with almost grotesque undertones. His paintings are in private collections in Europe, USA and Canada. His studio is currently located in Toronto, Ontario (Canada).