Magdalena Rakowska (PL)

Magdalena Rakowska (PL) 
Text written by GHA

Her figurative, black and white oil paintings are enigmatic and almost unsettling, conveying a melancholy mood reminiscent of a journey to a long-forgotten time. The seemingly familiar figures appear almost distant in their reserved interaction.

Rakowska’s works function as a medium for the artist’s memories and at the same time invite the viewer to reflect on their own past. Her depictions are unsettling and suggest that they are not always the happiest of memories, which is emphasised by the monochrome colour scheme and rather dark tones.Her slightly blurred figures are in the tradition of monochrome.

Magdalena Rakowska (PL)

Often supported by partial distortions in the interplay of light and shadow, she plays with perspectives to define the perception of the spatial environment. The deliberate use of a minimal colour palette directs the viewer’s gaze and invites them to engage with the protagonists’ narrative.Memories of a family past are suggested here and reinforced by a nostalgic depiction of the figures in black and white, which appeals to the viewer’s melancholy.  Apparent contemporary testimonies remind us that the past can also harbour a certain degree of uncertainty and anxiety.

Find more works in our webshop >>>

“Birthday”                                                    “Mother”