OTOCKI BARTEK (b. 1978), Untitled, from the series "Saudade," 2023

oil on canvas, 90 x 90 cm, signed back.

The paintings in this series were created from private photographs that Americans sell via
ebay.com website. The selected photographs are a nostalgic journey in time
to moments that we associate with a safe childhood, carefree life and a
a world that is simple and understandable, directly accessible to our senses.
Of course, they have been transformed into a slightly more surreal artistic
vision, but we still remain immersed in the reality of relaxation and
rest. The name of the series is taken from a Portuguese term
denoting a kind of nostalgia and melancholy associated with a strong valorization of the
of the past, perceived with subtle pride and joy, in a positive way.

BARTEK OTOCKI Born in 1978 in Lodz, Poland. Diploma in painting in the studio of Prof. Ryszard
Hunger at the Faculty of Graphic Arts and Painting of the Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz (2003); Ph.
Faculty of Painting at the University of Arts in Poznań (2011); habilitation at the Faculty of
Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk (2014). From 2003-2012, assistant, then
assistant professor in the painting and drawing studio at the Faculty of Textiles and Clothing at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz. Since 2012
has led the Drawing Studio at the Faculty of Painting at the Academy of Art in Szczecin, since 2014.
has been working as an associate professor. Painter and photographer, curator, juror of painting competitions
painting competitions. Author of series of works, among others: "Memory Portraits", "Alchemy of Illusion", "Is it safe/Is
it safe?", "Yang!", "Less time left than it seems", "Irreversible/Irreversible" and "Saudade".
Participant of more than 50 individual and collective exhibitions, among others at the Contemporary Museum in
Wroclaw, Museum of the History of the City of Lodz, Bielska Galeria BWA, National Museum in Szczecin,
Polish Sculpture Center in Orońsko.