Dimensions: 60 x 50 cm
Signed and dated in the middle: 'Erwin Owl. 74.'
signed and described on the reverse: "MEDITATION 60 x 50 | Sówka Erwin | Katowice 16 Ul. Leśnego-potoku 77.
on the reverse a sticker of the Museum of Folk Art in Otrębusy Marian Pokropek
Condition
cracks in the paint layer
Origin
collection of Ludwig Zimmerer, Poland
Biography
Erwin Sowka came from a mining family. At the age of 16, he took a job at the "Wieczorek" mine, where he met Ewald Gawlik. A few years after he started working at the mine, Sowka joined the circle of amateur artists in the cultural house operating at the mine, where he met Teofil Ociepka. From that moment, painting became an integral part of Sowka's life. The artist was discovered and appreciated by Ludwig Zimmerer, a German collector of folk art, who bought Sowka's works directly for his collection. The paintings of Sowka and other members of the so-called Janov Group gradually aroused more and more interest, which eventually translated into many local and foreign exhibitions and recognition among enthusiasts and collectors. Erwin Sowka's paintings often depict Silesian industrial landscapes, such as mines and workers' settlements, combined with religious and mystical motifs, referring to esotericism, the occult, the Ancient East. Also characteristic of his works are female nudes, which the artist considered a symbol of beauty and divinity. In 1999, Polish Television produced a documentary film, "Worlds of Erwin Sowka," dedicated to his life and work. Sowka's works have been presented at numerous exhibitions in Poland and abroad, and his unique style has gained recognition among both critics and art lovers. His work remains an important part of the cultural heritage of Silesia.
