Rafal Piesliak’s exhibition „Insight“ in the gallery Le Guern in Warsaw

According to the artist himself, the title of the exhibition “Insight” corresponds to the state of the artist when creating, and the viewer while observing the works of art. It’s like a sudden realization, a revelation of the essence, accompanied by strong positive emotions and the joy of discovery. Insight not only allows recognition but also opens the way for further thinking and understanding. In the exhibition, the sculptor presents objects made of steel, porcelain, crystal, and brass. To create these objects, the artist applies the old Japanese dish repair technique kintsugi, which allows the broken dishes to be resurrected to a new life. By using old cups, plates, and vases, Rafal Piesliak refers to a certain past era and its cultural contexts as well as reveals a close emotional connection with the objects of memory. The broken dishes combined into a new sculptural body touch the problems of novelty, aesthetics, tradition, and change.

Rafal Pesliak (b. 1983) lives and works in Vilnius, Lithuania. He has graduated from Vilnius Academy of Arts in sculpture in 2008. The artist has presented his works in public spaces: object “Wheel” in the Lithuanian fairy tale park, a sculptural plate “Art in space, space in art“ near VAA, and a few objects in Krzyżowa, Poland. The artist has actively participated in exhibitions since 2009. He has had nine solo shows in Lithuania, Italy, and Latvia. The sculptor also creates stage designs for the theatre. In 2010, he was awarded Polish State Award for Cultural Merits and in 2020 he received the best ArtVilnius’20 installation award for artwork “Garden”, which is now a part of a Vilnius city.

The exhibition is a part of an international exchange between Galeria Le Guern in Warsaw and (AV17) gallery in Vilnius. Le Guern Gallery is a contemporary art gallery that focuses on exhibiting the work of emerging artists from the Polish and international art scenes. Presenting some of the most challenging contemporary artists, as well as supporting young local artists, the gallery shapes its profile with reference to the current visual manifestations.

The project is partially sponsored by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.