EVA MULROY

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"Debut", Galleria Alternatives, Danzica, Polonia, dicembre 2005

Ewa Kalinska uses still life as a key theme of her artwork. Although these paintings are the biggest part of Mrs. Kalinska’s artwork, her work with other motives also appear. With respect to her paintings, she typically will use pictures, and her paintings tend not to be working sketches, although at times she may sketch as well.
Drawing has become an important part of Mrs. Kalinska’s self-expression. Her drawings are autonomous, independent, strong, and determined. All of her works relate to a single motif - the human form.
Mrs. Kalinska’s starts by transforming human nature into a portrait. For many years I have followed her artistic activities, and remember her works which were displayed at the European Academy of Arts in Warsaw, which she attended and graduated. Mrs. Kalinska’s professors were outstanding artists: Professors Barbara Szubinska, Franciszek Starowieyski, and Jerzy Duda-Gracz.
An important step in her art education was graduating from the Academy of Multimedia, in Gdansk. It is here in her native city, that she developed her art knowledge. She ultimately obtained a degree in computer graphics, emphasizing on art activities. She graduated from that school with honors.
There are artists who limit their action to build its truth about the world. As we know others have found their own work in life, looking in different directions. There is no single rule. This author is a supporter of the first option. Still life, the human figure - a theme which Mrs. Kalinska continues to master, trying to show still life every time differently and better.
Although Mrs. Kalinska’s painting debut takes place today, Mrs. Kalinska has participated in the artistic exhibitions for many years. This exhibition in the “Alternatywa” gallery gives an opportunity to present to a wider range of recipients the works of painting and drawing of this young and gifted artist. Personally, I look forward with great interest for the next presentation of Mrs. Kalinska’s creativity.
Marek Model, 2006
ALTERNATYWA” is a small gallery located on St. Mary Street. It livens the street of old buildings and amber by exhibiting in its interior works of contemporary art. On Wednesday December 7th, in this gallery, Mrs. Kalinska’s, a Gdansk artist who is interested in still life and the female body has her "debut" ( the exhibition had that. The artist will show the audience her works of themes which she has created over the past two years.
Images showing still life are typically characterized by vivid colors. but in individual works they tend to be dominated by one shade. The use of color in differing shades, determine the complexity of the subject. Thus, for example, yellow and brown colors may dominate in two images, which may show items related to a kitchen. Warm colors will reflect the warmth of a home. Subjects, such as bread, cheese and eggs, may be presented in a kitchen in one or two shades. These subjects are necessary, essential in life, simple and beautiful in their simplicity. Over drawings or unnecessary ornaments are not present. Mrs. Kalinska follows the same rules when showing the female body.
Great advantage of this principle has been applied in these acts. The presented women differ from the commonly accepted canons, but despite that they are beautiful. Their bodies are natural and dark. Clearly applied lines highlight what we usually recognize as weaknesses of our body, such as drooping buttocks and breasts, convex bellies, and irregular facial features. The beauty of these women shown does not result from the beauty of their bodies, but instead is revealed in the depth of the portrait. Women on this artist’s paintings lie slightly bent as if they were in a light sleep, almost awaken from a beautiful dream, which does not allow them to return to reality. The beauty of these women is also emphasized in a very subtle way by color. Soft, pastel colors soften the sharpness of their bodies, lighten their figures, suggesting that their beauty lies inside, and that femininity is not a result of the appearance of the body, but instead, the awareness of being a woman.
A particular delight amongst visitors is aroused when watching "Acts" depicting naked angels. The “Acts” are completely unique from what a typical art connoisseur knows from a traditional intake. Again, the artist presented what appears to be a tired naked woman. The women have bent down heads, and lowered hands. You can see that their life was hard, but they haven’t lost their angelic look. Although their wings are hanging numbly , they appear to rise up to the sky again and amaze everybody with their beauty. Once again, the colors in which these women are presented, are in a delicate, pastel, dominated by browns and beiges. Only a single image, which can be called "winter", is dominated by white and blue. It is not without significance here that the wings are real feathers. It added the realism and magic, while adding the risk that the angels would spread their wings and fly away.
Magdalena Tomkowska, 2006