Sylwia Kalinowska, Happy Islands..., 2021

Oil, canvas, 160x100cm

Sylwia Kalinowska is one of the more interesting representatives of the art termed magical realism, who in her work focuses primarily on romantic depictions of women. A woman, as seen by the artist, is an extremely ethereal, fragile, beautiful being, exuding inner charm. Kalinowska, like no one else, is able to reflect the inner world of women composed of dreams, longings and desires to be fulfilled and happy. With poetic atmosphere, intricate lines and decorative detail, the painter refers to "art nouveau" art and her paintings bring to mind the decorative paintings of Alphonse Mucha or the sparkling gold works of Gustav Klimt. As the artist herself writes: "In my portraits I follow femininity, but I am really looking for its different shades and the infinite possibilities of guessing my own self. I look proudly at the next paintings, stroll past with the hope that I discover some suppressed truth about the female nature. At the same time, I am sure that in each of them is hidden a little bit of me, my life's joy, wisdom and past experiences. The faces are different, just as the female nature is different and complicated."