Feliks Smolinski (1947-2017), Soulfulness, 2004

Oil, painting board, 43 x 54 cm, signed p.d. and described on the back

Feliks Smolinski, a Polish artist who created between 1998 and 2017. He signed his works with the pseudonym Felix, which means "happy," but his life and work were far from idyllic. Smolinski is described as a self-made artist, representing the naive art trend - art brut. Painting has always been present in Smolinski's life. The biggest breakthrough in his artistic career came after a tragic accident. During his stay in the hospital, the artist underwent art therapy. It helped him deal with the trauma and the problems from the past that still plague his mind. Since then, painting, which is a medicine, bringing peace and solace, has become the main occupation in Feliks Smolinski's life. In his work, Smolinski refers to the masters of painting: Picasso, Leger, Kantor, Dali, Magritte. His paintings are characterized by a range of strong, often contrasting colors, sharply drawn lines and abstractness expressing tension and longing for an orderly and safe world.