Leon TARASEWICZ (b. 1957), Untitled, 2023

acrylic, canvas; 100 x 100 cm;
Signed and dated on the back: L. Tarasewicz 2023 / acrylic on canvas / 100 x 100.

Leon Tarasewicz is considered one of the most important artists of the turn of the century. Respected around the world, extremely active, constantly looking for new means of expression. From the beginning of his creative path, he believed that the most important thing in a painting is the painting itself, rather than trying to convey information or assigning a deep message. He has always been inspired by nature, especially the surroundings of the village of Waliły. There, observing forests, fields and flocks of birds, the artist began to create peculiar landscapes, significantly reducing artistic means, focusing more on the calm rhythm and repetition of landscape elements, using basic purely painterly values such as color, light and the texture of paint.
Over time, his compositions began to be enriched with additional pure colors, often combined in the most surprising ways. This is what he said about his color explorations: "[...] I often observe unusual color combinations in nature. [...] I would like, for example, to juxtapose green with blue in such a way that this at some point becomes almost luminous. [...] Sometimes achieving such a luminous clash of colors is possible by breaking down - and therefore transforming - the naturalism of the observed phenomenon. [...] But how I will do it, I don't know yet."
Tarasewicz's work is well known for his large-scale works painted with characteristic stripes. Despite their apparent simplicity, the choice of colors gives the impression of a rippling surface, attracts luminosity. The artist often definitely goes beyond the canvas, creating large installation paintings or painting the walls of museums and galleries. By the same token, he allows, as it were, to enter the work of art, to feel it from all sides.