PAINTINGS GRAPHICS
KRZYSZTOF
RAPSA
is a project which integrates gesture, word and sound. The
Polish
artist
Krzysztof
Rapsa’s
abstract
paint-
ings have become an inspiration for poets of various nationalities. The foreign premiere of this international project is ushered by Rapsa’s exhibition at the Art Gallery Hernandez in Milan and it inaugurated the global event Expo Milano 2015. The next stop on the Polish painter’s artistic journey through the galleries of the world is Emami Chisel Art in Kolkata.
Emami Chisel Art (ECA) is part of the reputed Emami Group of Companies in India, established by two childhood friends & business partners Shri R.S. Agarwal and Shri R.S. Goenka. Co-founder of the Emami Group Shri R.S. Agarwal is a visionary entrepreneur, philosopher and poet. Bhavdhara is his best known collection of poems, featuring his ruminations on life and its tenets. Shri R.S. Goenka, a perfect foil to his friend and business partner, possesses an eclectic taste for fine arts. He is a man of action in few words. Once again Artist it is great honour and appreciation of the Rapsa’s works to publish in this catalogue especially written poem by honourable Shri R.S. Agarwal remarkably matching with believed philosophy and Artist’s style. Such perfect mixture provided also great occasion to strengthen collaboration and to organize exclusively for Indian audience international exhibition at ECA during Artist’s incoming international Rapsodia programme.
REVIEW The twenty-first century does not forgive time wasted while waiting for inspiration, it mercilessly eliminates unprolific painters. An active artist, whose creativity and constant work have guided him to a professional mastery, makes it all the more a pleasure for a critic to write about him. His synthetic world sometimes interspersed with features of nature saturated with colours - from shades of gray, through varieties of red and black to the full palette of colours– triggers reflections on the philosophy of life. Already at first glance, one can see in the Polish abstractionist’s artworks the impact of their appeal. Krzysztof Rapsa invites the viewer into the world of artistic co-creation and into the realms of his imagination. In some paintings, for example in “Injured city” we can discern events or places important to him. However, it’s the people who decide what they want to see in Rapsa’s paintings the artist allows the viewer’s free interpretation of his art. The painter’s works of art compel man to reflect on life and allow him to see the beauty of the world – an image of the painter’s artistic considerations. In his paintings you can see the power of colour and unusual creative imagination, they are abstractions which lead the viewers to their own “reality”. This art enables us to glimpse into the painter’s soul. You can see joy and anxiety in it, it is art whose element is colour. Contemplation of Rapsa’s paintings brings joy and fulfillment. Many of his works are filled with warmth, lyricism and sensitivity to the world around him. And the world’s appreciation of Rapsa’s painting widely opens the door to his artistry.
Richa Agarwal Emami Chisel Art Gallery Director
Abstract painting lets me visit the world of my imagination, my own world of forms and colours. I enjoy painting it by creating an intimate relation between myself and the picture. However, it’s not until I become aware of the viewers’ emotions and interpretations that I actualy feel to be an artist and thus the viewers become co-creators of my art.
INTRODUCTION Over a short span of time, Emami Chisel Art has become one of the most happening art galleries of Kolkata where art exhibitions of renowned artists are showcased on a regular basis. Emami Chisel Art has an eclectic collection of celebrated original artworks by MF Hussain, Tyeb Mehta, Jehangir Sabavala, Subodh Gupta, KG Subramanyan, Himmat Shah, Jogen Chowdhury, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy and many other masters. Richa Agarwal, Director Emami Chisel Art, is playfully blurring the line between art and commerce. Motivated by her prolific father-in-law, R. S. Agarwal’s passion for paintings and sculptures, Richa was a key force to give shape to his concept and help him establish Emami Chisel Art as one of the finest contemporary art galleries in the country that was a differentiator. The Polish painter Krzysztof Rapsa’s artistic journey, which started years ago in London and which has been charted ever since by the artist’s promoter, has led this abstractionist into the circle of most eminent artists of the world. Presentation of his artistic output in Seoul and the sheer fascination it exerted there have made him the most well-known contemporary Polish painter in South Korea. His exhibitions in Rome, Qatar, and most recently in the Hernandez Art gallery in Milan, where Rapsa inaugurated the world event EXPO MILANO 2015, have brought him here to Kolkata. The Emami Chisel Art Gallery is yet another stage on the Polish painter’s journey. I’m happy to support and be Krzysztof Rapsa’s patron for so many years. It is my great pleasure to observe over the time how artist’s abstract paintings, which had been kept for twenty years in a medium-sized Polish town of Koszalin, were freed and made available to admire all over the world and drew the attention of connoisseurs of art and art critics. But there is more - the Polish painter’s artistry has inspired poets and musicians from many countries of the world. They wrote poems and composed music inspired by Rapsa’s painting. “Rapsodia” is a project which integrates the image, word and sound. The album “Poems and pictures” whose premiere took place in Milan during Krzysztof Rapsa’s individual exhibition, in Kolkata is yet another presentation of foreign culture and art. Rapsa’s painting inspired Shri R.S. Agarwal, a renowned personality in the Indian world of culture and business and far beyond Asia, to write a poem which was then enriched with music by the Polish composer Janusz Blecharz. The Emami Chisel Art Gallery is presenting Krzysztof Rapsa’s artwork with great appreciation and his paintings will stay there to grace the gallery wall.
Zbigniew Janasik Patron & Art lover
HOW MUCH MORE DO I KNOW!!!! The more I know The more I realize how little I know!!!! By just knowing this truth how much more do I know‌.. Shri R.S. Agarwal, India
Composition canvas, mixed technique 130x90, 2011
No title canvas, mixed technique 81x65, 2012
A night at Kolkata canvas, mixed technique 130x100, 2010
No title canvas, mixed technique 30x100, 2010
Composition paper, mixed technique 40x30, 2013
Composition canvas, mixed technique 100x80, 2005
Composition paper, mixed technique 40x30, 2013
Composition cardboard, mixed technique 41x69, 2014
Bird conference canvas, mixed technique 78x58, 2012
No title canvas, mixed technique 100x70, 2009
No title canvas, mixed technique 100x70, 2009
Cyclone canvas, mixed technique 72x56, 2012
NUOVE FIORTURE Ho un certo non so ché che mi accompagna, che sembra un’ombra, quella delle notti nere. Io so del buio, la sua asprezza però non temo. E non temo nemmeno un gatto nero che si blocca alla luce dei fanali: non cambio strada. Imperterrita attendo nuove aurore e della primavera che silente incede mi gusterò il profumo dei limoni. E nuove fioriture.
Elisabetta Freddi, Italia
No title canvas, mixed technique 205x115, 2015
No title canvas, mixed technique 205x115, 2015
No title canvas, mixed technique 205x115, 2015
No title canvas, mixed technique 205x115, 2015
No title canvas, mixed technique 205x115, 2015
LA TREDICESIMA NOTA Fermi, a riposare, su ali aperte di uccelli migratori. stanno vènti immobili Pesci in apnea, danzano, in fila lungo rive rade di scogli e fiordalisi. Città pigre scrutano da terrazze e torri inalando luci fioche di sguardi brillanti di lacrime d’occhi, fissi, accesi e spenti senza tregua né ritmo. E la musica suona l’armonia degli opposti partorendo, tra urla di trombe, la Tredicesima Nota che qualcuno chiama Dio e qualcun’altro Io.
Marco Mastrilli, Aia Iannitti, Italia
No title canvas, mixed technique 205x115, 2015
No title canvas, mixed technique 100x70, 2015
No title canvas, mixed technique 100x70, 2015
Composition canvas, mixed technique 70x50, 2008
Composition canvas, mixed technique 70x60, 2014
Composition canvas, mixed technique 80x65, 2013
No title canvas, mixed technique 80x60, 2015
No title canvas, mixed technique 80x60, 2015
Composition canvas, mixed technique 80x65, 2011
Libertà che m’insegui e per un soffio non mi prendi Vattene ora che sei ancora in tempo Prima di infrangerti su quei muri, fuggi E lasciami schiavo della roccia In quel tempo che sembra non passare Ma che è sempre finito. Ma no, non ascoltare la mia voce! Dentro, lo sai, altre parole suonano altre voci E tu fuggi, ma prima prendimi, portami via Quel muro è prigione E io non sarò schiavo offerto in sacrificio Perché solo con te, in te e per te La linea che separa prima e dopo è vita. Claudio Fiorentini, Italia
Wounded city canvas, mixed technique 60x50, 2008
Composition I canvas, mixed technique 100x70, 2015
Composition II canvas, mixed technique 100x81, 2015
No title canvas, mixed technique 60x50, 2015
Composition canvas, mixed technique 60x50, 2015
Horizont II canvas, mixed technique 90x60, 2015
Horizont IV canvas, mixed technique 80x60, 2015
No title canvas, mixed technique 100x70, 2015
Composition canvas, mixed technique 100x70, 2015
BIOGRAPHY Krzysztof Rapsa (1959) lives and works in Koszalin. His painting is a world of artistic fantasy and diverse associations of ideas. His artistic adventure with colour has lead him through a number of exhibitions in Poland and abroad. In Seoul he was acclaimed the “poet of colour” and the most significant art newspapers and magazines published enthusiastic opinions and reviews about him describing Rapsa as an outstanding abstractionist of the world. Rapsa’s exhibition in Jang Eun Sun Gallery, as well as other presentations of his works that followed it have made him the most well-known Polish contemporary painter in South Korea. In 2012 in Seoul he was the only foreign artist to receive a recognition and invitation to the Festival of Korean Art. He has been honoured and distinguished with many awards, such as the award of Central Marine Museum in Gdańsk at the European Painting Competition “Colours of the Sea”, Era-Art award at the 4th International Biennial of Painting and Unique Fabricks in Gdynia. In 2015 he received the “Artist of the Year’’ award from the President of Koszalin, and Gran Prix Audience award at EXPO MILANO 2015- Hernandez Gallery. Krzysztof Rapsa’s painting was displayed in 2015 at the National Theatre (Sun&Moon restaurant) in Seoul as part of the presentation Countries and Cultures around the World – Polish month. His artistic journey around galleries of the world has been going on for several years. In 2014 he displayed his paintings in Samsung Gallery and Foret Gallery in Seoul (Grand Prix - Public Choice Most Wanted Collection), at the Museum in Dageu and Mosan Museum and at Qatar Fine Arts Society in Doha. Krzysztof Rapsa’s paintings displayed at Saman Art Gallery in Rome inspired many Italian poets to write verses and to take part in the international project titled “Rapsodia”. Within the project, which combines painting, poetry and music, Rapsa’s abstract paintings inspired poets from different countries of the world to write poems and composers from Italy and Poland to write music. Premiere of the "Rapsodia” album took place on 30th April 2015 in Milan during Krzysztof Rapsa’s individual exhibition which opened EXPO – MILANO 2015 at Hernandez Gallery (Grand Prix - Public Choice Award). His output was presented in the movie "Fortunately there is Art”, made under the auspices of National Museum in Gdańsk. Krzysztof Rapsa’s paintings have been used in film and television productions, e.g. by Korean TV KBS and in various publications, including designs of book covers. Year 2015 brought to Rapsa a lot of publicity in Korea where his works area highly appreciated for example his works were presented in most prestigious and luxury life style magazines such as Luxury Korea, Lady Kyunghwang and Power Korea. His works are housed in museums, contemporary art galleries and private collections in Poland and abroad.
REVIEWS He realistically shows metaphor that goes beyond having to illustrate formative image. Contrasting languages of dynamics and lyricism melting together to form the peak of color aesthetics is the power as well as the appeal of Krzysztof Rapsa. This is also the clear reason why he was able to become one of the world’s great artists. Ryu Seok Woo critic, Managing Editor The Art Magazine Misoolsidae
These days the abstract "battles” have subsided giving way to the sophisticated culture of abstract painting which has resulted from better education. Krzysztof Rapsa’s abstract work features in the domain of this culture. His canvases show the freedom with which he uses different conventions of abstraction while at the same time attempt an analysis of the condensation of his experiences and emotions, which make up an allusive landscape of what could be called the "neighbourhood”, "town” and "soul”. Antoni Szoska Art critic, Academy of Fine Arts, Cracow
Krzysztof Rapsa, as expressed in Zbigniew Herbert’s poem "With a light step he moves from spot to spot”, encapsulates his world in multicolouration and multi-colour. And the artist himself is another hot beast in art whose element is colour. Justyna Hofman Wiśniewska Art critic, Warsaw
Colour is omnipresent in Rapsa’s painting and by inviting us to the garden of his imagination he offers us a foretaste of the painter’s paradise. Marita Benke-Gajda reviewer, Academy of Fine Arts, Cracow
Krzysztof is an artist of great talent worthy of attention not only in Poland but also far beyond. Aleksiej Bogustov professor, Faculty of Fine Arts at University in Grodno
GRAPHICS
Graphics digital print 44x36, 2012
Graphics digital print 44x36, 2012
Graphics digital print 44x36, 2012
Graphics digital print 44x36, 2012
Graphics digital print 44x36, 2012
Graphics digital print 44x36, 2012
Graphics digital print 44x36, 2012
EXHIBITIONS INDIVIDUAL
2015 2015 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2009 2008
National Theater, Sun & Moon Restaurant, Seoul Art Gallery Hernandez, EXPO MILANO 2015, Milano DAP Gallery, Warsaw Gujke Art Museum, Daegu, South Korea Art Gallery Saman, Roma Gallery Raemian Samsung, Seoul Kapitańska Gallery, Szczecin KCK Contemporary Art Gallery, Inowrocław National Maritime Museum, Gdańsk, Ship-Museum “Dar Pomor za“ Qadrat Gallery, Warsaw Centre of Contemporary Art, Kołobrzeg Jang Eun Sun Gallery, Seoul 022 OW ZPAP Gallery, Warsaw District Gallery of Modern Art, Ostrów Wlkp. Van Golik Gallery, Warsaw Museum of Koszalin Glaza Expo Art Gallery, Gdańsk ZLP Gallery, Warsaw Spatium Novum Gallery, Elbląg Galeria Tizengauza Gallery, Grodno, Belarus Solvay Contemporary Art Gallery, Kraków Palace of Republic, Minsk, Belarus Museum of Szczecinek, Poland POSK Gallery, Londyn
2015 2014 2014 2014 2014 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2010 2010 2008 2008
INO ART Inowrocław Foret Art Gallery, Seoul (Global Artists — Culture Exchange and Exhibition) Qatar Fine Arts Society, Doha-Katar (Polish Modern Art) XII World Art Symposium, Mosan Museum, South Korea International exhibition “Wskrzeszenie 2”, Impresja Gallery, Zabrze Baltic Gallery of Art, Koszalin di Capablio Castle, Rome ZPAP Gallery, Warsaw ZPAP Gallery, Częstochowa BWA Gallery, Sieradz DAF-3 OW ZPAP Gallery, Warsaw Atelier Karchen, Frankfurt /Main Museum of Technology and Communication, Szczecin Museum of Gdynia Museum of Grodno, Belarus Museum of Technology and Communication, Szczecin Centre of Culture of Stargrad Szczeciński City Tygiel Gallery, Gdynia Światowid Gallery , Elbląg Polish Embassy, London
GROUP
AWARDS 2015 2015 2014 2014 2013 2012 2012 2011 2011
Grand Prix Public Choice Award, EXPO MILANO, Galeria Hernandez Art Gallery, Milano Artist of the Year by President of city of Koszalin 12th Mosan Art Museum World Curtural Art Symposium - Appreciation Decoration The Circle of Hermitage, Grand Prix - Public Choice Most Wanted Collection, Seoul National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk Award European Artist Invitation Award to the Korean Arts Festival in Seoul Jubilee Award of the President of Koszalin - 25 years of creative work VI International Biennial of Painting and Textile Award, Museum of Gdynia) “Eagle of Koszalin” Award
Publisher
2015