Franciszek Starowieyski

Nightmares

Painter, illustrator, printmaker, theatre and TV set designer, Franciszek Starowieyski is considered one of the most prominent artist in Polish post-war era. He studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow and Warsaw. His prolific artistic contribution reveals a drawing master and an eccentric personality fascinated with the surreal. Starowieyski’s posters combine the sensuous forms with an intellectual message. Endowed with symbolism and aesthetic references they create a unique language I find intriguing and captivating. They become a visual commentary reflecting also the artist’s approach to creating artworks.

The Bloodstained Butterfly

”(…) the most difficult task for the creator of a good poster is to find a reason for making it at all, of abstracting something personal out of the theme. (…) the act of illustrating somebody else’s thoughts and ideas is not good enough, as it doesn’t produce the necessary creative tension.” (Quotation taken from KINOTEKA Festival Book)
“I want to create a world which is independent from our notions of humanity. (… )I want to obtain a third dimension through the spiritual mood of my pictures”. (http://www.culture.pl)
”The viewer expects the artist to scandalize, insult and shock him.” (http://www.culture.pl)