Rafal Labijak is a contemporary Polish painter. Rafal's art is a reflection of his probing intellect and deep contemplation of contemporary societal dynamics. His paintings serve as a lens through which he examines pressing questions related to our rapidly evolving world. He delves into themes such as social relationships in the age of the smartphone revolution, the mediatization of virtual reality, communication in the postmodern era, the stark landscapes of the post-industrial world, and the notion of attention and its deficiencies. In his artistic practice, Rafal Labijak combines traditional painting techniques, including oil and acrylic on canvas, with innovative experimentation. His own unique techniques further enrich his oeuvre, resulting in a body of work that offers profound insights into the complexities of our modern existence.
He is an artist whose journey through the world of art has been marked by a rich tapestry of experiences and educational pursuits. He holds a degree in painting from The Magdalena Abakanowicz University of the Arts Poznan, where he honed his craft and laid the foundations of his artistic vision. Rafal's academic journey extends beyond the realm of art, as he graduated from the Poznań University of Technology in 1992, showcasing his diverse interests and intellectual curiosity. In his quest for artistic growth, he further enriched his knowledge by auditing classes at the VIII Painting Studio, under the guidance of Professor Józef Walczak, at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznań during 2004-2005. In 2014, Rafal Labijak embarked on an exploration of the intersections between art and social activities, participating in Workshops and Encounters of Arts organized by Professor Janusz Marciniak at the University of Arts in Poznań, in collaboration with the Signum Foundation. He exhibited his works nationally.
The title of the exhibition The Art of Loving – Rafal Labijak's Paintings Sung in Poetry by Dominik Górny also corresponds to the author's attitude to life and creativity, who enjoys the time he spends painting and, although accompanied by critical reflection, does not allow it to take away the original joy of creation. In my opinion, Labijak's attitude to art is worth nurturing. Looking at his paintings, one has the impression that, while painting, this artist is experiencing a 'flow' – flow, or, as recognised in psychology, 'a state between satisfaction and euphoria, caused by total dedication to an activity'. Similarly, the moment of enlightenment induced by prayer, fasting and asceticism is described by mystics, the moment of ego dissolution by Buddhist monks, and the effect induced by psilocybin by those experimenting with psychedelics. It is also a state in which tension levels in the body often drop and intuition comes to the fore. It seems that this is also the special nature of manual artistic techniques, as the contact between the tool and the ground is more of a „direct manifestation of the artist's psyche”, providing a glimpse into its interior, often also for the first time to the author himself. Rafał Labijak opens up his incoherent, ambiguous world, full of colour and painterly layers to the audience.
Anna Kołacka
from Smart Canvas exhibition
