Adam STYKA b. 1940, Image XXXVII - 15, 2015

Initially Styka was engaged in creating spatial objects, in which all the elements symptomatic of his later painting work appear. Rhythmic elements and the pursuit of harmony by complementing each other's forms are the hallmarks of the artist's art language, which he developed over the years. The 1979 painting "Purple Tree" proved to be a breakthrough for his artistic path. It marked the beginning of the process of synthesizing and abstracting, characteristic of Styka's work of the 1980s. An ever-processed series of simplifications led the artist to compositions with geometric divisions.
The work on display comes from a series of numbered paintings begun in 2001. The artist successively develops his creative thought, building compositions based on multi-layered arrangements with a centrally placed basic figure: a circle, square or triangle. He achieves space and mood by means of light, the source of which is inside the painting, often in the center. The rhythmization of the plane combined with color expression creates an extremely balanced whole - the moodiness of the works brings to mind the composition of a musical piece.
The paintings of this series are characterized by a unique metaphysical potential. One can read in them a subtly posed question about the mystery of existence, contained in the symbolism of signs. Combined with the harmony of colors and light, the compositions encourage contemplation and introduce one to a world hidden beyond time.
"When creating, I develop an alphabet of forms and colors that are markers, just waiting for the watchful eye to fill them with content. I treat abstraction as a process of distancing, which allows one to look from a distance and observe one's own intuition."