Mateusz Bykowski
Born in 1987 in Więcbork.
Mateusz Bykowski was last year’s prize-winner in the Best Polish Diploma Exhibition. It was a revelation – his diploma works were fresh, thematic, narrative. Bykowski’s pictures first tear down our perception and then please the eye with a pure impression of painting spots, creating an illusion, camouflage, in order not to be direct. The shiny plexi effect further impairs our perception to gain an extra moment delaying the crux of the matter, the seemingly hidden story. We deal with a reversed situation here as the plexi pictures are records of what was painted behind. We only see the initial brush strokes, meaning that the artist had to work under strain, sticking to the strict rules of painting on glass. Bykowski’s reverse pictures are commentaries to the information included in the works, usually with a hidden political message. The distance we feel watching the paintings, due to the technique and visual means he uses, reveals the political context. The information about violence is concealed, just like in real life, where inconvenient news undergoes manipulation. When we do not see something directly, our perception becomes suspicious and focussed on revealing the truth. However, we will not be able to solve the riddle without some generally available, extra information. Seeing is knowing. The self-immolation of the monk Tich Quan Duc shown by Bykowski signals something that took place beyond the picture. The artist has managed to find a balance between form and content, where the painting form involves what might be called the artist’s connection with the content that is difficult to express. Bykowski clashes with Ranciere’s concept here and succeeds in finding the painting answer in a new form.
Krzysztof Gliszczyński
Mateusz Bykowski
Education:
- Interdepartmental Ph.D. Course, Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, academic teacher practice at the Faculty of Intermedia, Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, since 2012
- Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, Faculty of Painting, MA Thesis and Diploma Project in painting and intermedia entitled “Good Night, See You, Bye, We’re Dead”, Prof. Teresa Miszkin’s diploma studio and Prof. Witosław Czerwonka’s intermedia studio; diploma granted the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Prize, 2007-2012
- Scholarship in Kunstuniversitat Linz, Austria, Socrates-Erasmus Programme, March-July 2009
- Post-secondary course at the Society of Modern Education in Toruń, 2006-2007
Competitions and exhibitions:
- Exhibition of Young Painting in Gdańsk, Diplomas 2012-2013
- Exhibition of Best ASP Diploma Works 2012, Centre of Culture in Kutno, 2012
- Exhibition of Best ASP Diploma Works 2012, Test Gallery in Warsaw, 2012
- Participation in the Exhibition of Best Gdańsk ASP Diploma Works 2012, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Prize, 2012
- Participation in the exhibition “Uncanny Stories” in Gdańsk, 2012
- Finalist of the 11th edition of the Hestia Artistic Journey Competition in Gdańsk, 2012
- Finalist of the Review of Short Film Forms 4`65`` in Białystok, 2012
- Film show at the 2nd Points of View Festival of Video Art in Łódź, 2012
- Participation in the “przeZtwory – poMorze” Art Festival in Gdańsk and Szczecin, 2012
- Participation in the duo exhibition “Memory of Trace/Trace of Memory” at the Flisak 76 Club in Gdańsk as part of the cycle “76 Arts Underground” organized by the Gdańsk ASP student association “poMorze Sztuki”, 2012
- Solo show of a video and installation, Gdańsk ASP, 2012
- Film show at the 5th In Out Festival in Gdańsk, 2011
- Film show at the Festival of Experimental Film and Video in Krk, Croatia, 2011
- Film show, European Museum Night, E66 Gallery in Gdańsk, 2011
- Individual video projection within city space, Szeroka Street in Gdańsk, 2011
- Exhibition of works, 1st Points of View Festival of Video Art in Łódź, 2011
- Participation in the Identity Festival of Art, Gdańsk and Szczecin, 2011
