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Krysztof OPIOLA

(Poland, 1962-)

The world Krysztof Opiola paints is very expressive, and reflects his hypersensitivity. The masks he imagines are distant relatives of the Romanesque age with its horrifying bestiaries; they express his states of mind. As for the wooden sculptures, they are rough figurines that come from his life or his dreams. They are three dimensional versions of livestock seen in the family farm, old fishermen, naked women, and so on. Krysztof devours books on building and machinery; he also makes small tin vehicles, some with a motor. At six tears old he narrowly escaped death in an accident. This left him profoundly traumatized, and he became increasingly isolated. Drawing at home seems to have given him back some equilibrium and stability. In Gdynia, the mental health clinic organizes painting, theatre and discussion groups. For Krysztof it is a place where he can open up and gain self-confidence.