Wrażenie czerwone nr 24 | Red Impression no 24

Marek Radke (1952- ) draws on the traditions of constructivism, minimalism and abstraction, but on his own terms. His geometrically constructed paintings do not strive for mathematical perfection. They are ephemeral, where it is not really the geometric form that dominates, but the colours and their expressiveness, reduced to a synthesis. Radke's paintings are not bound to any artistic trend - they retain their own individual language. Red Impression No. 24 shows a plane with a dominant colour, broken up by rasters, lines and brushstrokes. These graphic features are created by using the technique of painting in layers, where the lower layer of paint is not completely covered by the upper one. The final colour is created by superimposing several different shades that are dominated by a single colour. The superimposed layers create a vibrant and delicately textured surface. Spontaneity and vitality are balanced by minimalism and a sophisticated technique. Radke builds spaces of colour and light, but lacking attributes. They are conveyed through colour and take on a square format that becomes as important as other elements of the painting. In 1992, Bożena Kowalska wrote a very pertinent summary of his work, which still holds true today: "Radke is not a constructivist. He is not guided in his art by intellect, but by emotions of feeling and affection. He does not subscribe to any artistic programme or identify himself with any artistic orientation. He remains a poet using colour, living in a world of unfulfilled longings, lyricism and a constant search for signposts that do not exist". Marlena Chybowska-Butler