Dimensions: 46 x 38 cm
signed and dated p.d.: 'W.SIUDMAK | 1990 '
signed, dated and described on the reverse: '(38x46 cm) | ACRYL | W. SIUDMAK | TOILE SUR LE PANNEAU DE BOIS | "GARDEIN DE LA REINE" | 1990'
Literature
"Only a dream can transcend insurmountable barriers".
Wojciech Siudmak's life credo
Wojciech Siudmak was born on October 10, 1942 in Wieluń. He studied at the High School of Fine Arts in Warsaw. The same high school was also graduated by his classmates Jan Dobkowski and Ryszard Winiarski. Subsequently, all these outstanding artists studied at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. Unfortunately, Wojtek Siudmak did not express himself flatteringly about this stage of his education. His best memory was of physical education classes! They gave him the greatest pleasure. They were a kind of release from the consciousness that tormented him, that for five years he attended classes that did not even teach him to draw a human being correctly. And after all, this is an apprenticeship, a base for a painter's workshop! He treated the classes at the sports hall in two ways. On the one hand, it was an ideal opportunity to observe the dynamics of human bodies, and on the other, an opportunity to regain mental well-being. The years he spent at the Plastic Academy were a huge disappointment for him. He was disappointed by literally everything. Neither his professors nor his colleagues enthused him. Despite his young age, Siudmak realized that being an artist is not about diplomas. He regretted that he had allowed himself to be fooled by the commonly held belief that higher education would help his career. One day he realized that not only had he not learned anything new, he had actually lost his former abilities! He stopped drawing, as he had done at the High School of Art. Because of the abstract painting they insistently hammered into his head at college, he had lost his style and his artistic identity. It reportedly took him more than a decade to come to himself. De facto, he had to learn everything from scratch. His old high school history and the few positive memories of his education lingered in his mind. There was a teacher in high school who taught him everything, from engraving to oil painting. But what was most valuable was that this true educator taught him courage. He instilled in young Wojtek that "to the brave the world belongs". The artist's parents were not so sure about this. They kept asking questions like, "And what are you going to live on?" He, however, was not discouraged. At just 24 years old, he decided to move permanently to Paris. It's hard to see any rationale in this decision. It was a truly crazy step. He was going de facto in the dark. True, his distant aunt lived there, but he was really on his own. He had a head full of dreams and courage instilled by a high school teacher. He wanted to see the Louvre, admire the works of the great masters there, and create and sell his works. Finally, the classes at the academy were of use for something, the sport developed in him persistence and systematicity. He felt he could overcome all barriers. He believed that there were no unattainable things for him, that he could do anything. Paris in the 1950s was a young man's paradise (at least he thought so). Carried on the wings of dreams to the mecca of artists, he suffered disappointment on the spot. It turned out that such poor dream painters were plentiful. To make matters worse, their works found no market or applause. And one had to live from something. Most of their fellow painters found work in the famous Parisian market halls, where meat was sold. There they worked up a sweat to earn money for paints and stretchers, but in the end they no longer had the strength to paint. Everyday life was killing their dreams. Aware of this irony, Siudmak decided to take a different strategy to earn money. He went to newspaper editorial offices. There he offered his skills, time and ease of drawing. He was given a chance. He started by creating illustrations for recipes. It was a great workshop and food for the imagination. After all, the richness of French cuisine is incredible. Drawing for newspapers became his "school of life." Soon the surrealist drawings and illustrations of Wojtek Siudmak were appreciated. In time, book cover designs began to be commissioned from him. This was a breakthrough in his work. From the covers began the good fortune of the artist from Wielun. This is how his science fiction art was born. The abstraction instilled during his studies killed Siudmak's ability to draw. A stay in Paris resurrected the former talent and enthusiasm. It's worth having a dream and consistently pursuing your plan. The story of Wojtek Siudmak is the best proof of this!
Biography
Studied at the High School of Fine Arts in Warsaw in 1956-61, and then studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw in 1961-66. In September 1966 he arrived in France to continue his studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He lives and works in Paris. He is considered one of the leading representatives of fantasy realism (like M. C. Escher, M. Klinger, L. Fini and others). He calls himself a fantasy hyperrealist, emphasizing his originality. Fantastic realism, combining surreal vision with naturalistic art, has its roots in Surrealism represented by Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, Paul Delvaux. SIUDMAKA shares with Dali a virtuosity in rendering the three-dimensional illusion of space, a sense of light and shadow, linear and aerial perspectives. To these traditional means of expression SIUDMAK adds purely realistic and very personal elements, where technical perfection is at the service of an original and lush imagination.
