#experiments two

Following on from are last very successful event, 'WEST WOLF EXPERIMENT ONE' witch included a beautiful large installation of the sea by Artist John Carroll. 

We are happy to Present are second artist, `Karol Kochanowski, a young Polish artist who shall be show casing his work at are next WEST WOLF event, this October 2013 - Experiments Two (out of four).

The artist will be making a special exclusive piece especially for the night. He tells us about his love for music, influences and fascination with colour. 

Tell us about your main influences, and why you paint!

What is your relationship with music? Do you feel like it influences your paintings in any way?

I can't indicate any main influence for my practice. I would rather say, I trust my subconsciousness and try to not think much while paint another work. When artwork is ready I am more able to point or rather read from an image what was the main idea behind my work. In many cases they're every day issues I am dealing with. The most recent works reflect my own struggle with making right decisions, finding the truth and reliable sources of information. The amount of information from mass media we are getting bombarded with in our every day life doesn't allow us to think and follow the truth as we can't be sure anymore where this all comes from. Also the Internet, TV , written word, all of that allow us to manipulate with reality, we can easily change the history just by one click, uploading bunch of nonsense on to website and we can be sure that there is always someone who will believe in what he sees only because it's approved by BBC or any other "reliable" source of news. Never the less, I was always obsessed with music, so there was no way to not get influenced by whatever I listen to. In many cases my paintings get named after songs titles, lyrics etc. Also, visually my works might reflect the actual songs, for example if you look at one of my most recent paintings "Superfunkycalifragisexy" and then listen to Prince's the same titled song you will see emotional transfer of the song on to a canvas.

You seem to use a lot of vibrant colours and textures in your paintings, do you have any favourite colours and if so, and what do they mean to you?

One of the main aspects of my works is to make them eye catching, either by creating surreal/controversial visions or either by using strong, vibrant colours, matching them in many strange ways what later create layers of bizarre contrasts. If I have to choose my favorite colours from oil paints, which I use recently, it would be definitely some tones of blue like Prussian,  Phthalocyanine or Cerulean, also Alizarin, Cadmium and Crimson from reds. I use only basic colours, try to not buy ready mixes what makes my practice more exciting as I discover new colours wile painting.

What is the most moving piece of contemporary artwork you have seen?

It's not possible for me to choose one piece of art, it's like with music, I don't think you could say what is your favorite ever song, it always change while you grow up. The most moving piece I've seen recently (only online but still) is a performance piece by Marina Abramović "Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present" in which an artist is challenging her self to silence the question she has been hearing all the time for years: "But why is this art?". She ends up surprising her self with the reaction of audience, who is also involved in to the performance, brings unexpected emotions. Also, recently, I've seen a video/music collaboration by Adam Curtis and Massive Attack as a part of this year Manchester International Festival. It was definitely one of the most important experiences for me this year. The show was a reflection on the strategy the World political leaders USA and Russia governments created in the last few decades. It shown how society easily gets controlled by simple propaganda operations, such as invention of Prozac, branding and advertisement, media control. This show was pure reflection on my recent artist's statement, it made me more confident about problems I am dealing with as a contemporary artist, also opened for me many new directions, fields to develop."

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Which one of your paintings is the most meaningful to you?

I am not attached to any of my works, or most of my paintings are the same meaningful to me. I treat painting practice as never ending process of developing, learning about oneself. I am always focused on the presence, which means the painting I am working right now on, is the most important work for me.

As a child growing up in poland, did you find you were drawn towards art?

Since I remember I always was told I have a "talent", I never got inspired by anybody and decided to make art, I was always doing it. 

I have to mention important for me people/artists David Lynch (film director) and Mike Portnoy (musician), they (and probably many other people) made me more passionate about being artist and made me believe I can carry on with my art practice and become full time professional artist.

What is your plans for the future?

At the moment I am involved in to a big project, CDM which is a charity organization helping local students and graduates to learn and develop important for textile designers/artists manual skills, to prepare them for self employer career. Also, I develop my curating skills by working with local high school, organising art events, exhibitions. Meanwhile I carry on my painting practice, as I just graduated from the university I am trying to get involved in many art projects, exhibitions, apply for prizes and do everything else to become professional artist.

if you would like to get in contact with karol email him here:

Karol Kochanowski <[email protected]>

Visit his web page here:

 http://karol-kochanowski.com/gallery/

                                             WEST WOLF