Interview
Marek Borkowski
Marek Borkowski is a British artist, born in Poland. He is a member of the Visual Artists Association, Professional Artist Association and the International Association of Visual Artists. Marek is an award-winning and featured abstract expression artist. Marek is painting on large home-stretched canvases, using mostly diluted acrylic paint. He doesn’t use paintbrushes but knives, metal brushes, his hands and any other objects. Finished and dry artworks are glazed for protection. Most of his works are created without a name or title in mind. These either come out afterwards or are left blank until a time comes or not.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I have travelled through dead oceans and walked a thousand miles through black forests. Traumatized a hundred times; saw blood dripping from wounded minds; years of alcoholism, ending my life only to come back again. That's brought me to realize that I am free: free of concepts, free of rules, of beliefs religious or otherwise. Free of should and shouldn't - free of all. I am free to express my feelings and/or energy within and around myself through painting, free to be my true self without trying to fit in or to be like the society I was born into.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“Stop, don't escape and/or run from your demons, face them then you may realize there are no demons. Be your true self no matter what they say, live your life, don't try to be like them to fit in to be liked. We were born to live, to love and be loved, to enjoy every moment of life, but we all were hijacked at birth, shaped, reshaped, used and abused to fit in to be like them and unknowingly we accepted it, and saw it as reality. My message is: stop, question all your beliefs, live now, and let yesterday be yesterday but tomorrow may never come.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“No, I never plan to paint in advance. I never paint something I would imagine or have a concept or a title. My work is spontaneous, raw, honest and unedited. I paint when the energy is at its highest and truly pouring out of my body, it might be my feelings but I am a very sensitive creature absorbing others' feelings even psyching energy therefore some of my paintings are a bundle of energy.”
Are there any art world trends you are following?
“I do not follow any trends including art world trends. What I do is classified as abstract expression, but to me, it is not a trend, I just started painting as I do, or allowing my feelings to paint itself through me.”
“Be your true self no matter what they say, live your life, don't try to be like them to fit in to be liked. ”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“There is no process or technique as such, I paint on large and very large stretched cotton canvases, stretched and primed by myself. I paint with diluted acrylic paint often mixed with plaster, ground coffee or even very fine gravel. I don't follow rules, or what I should or shouldn't do, but I do not use paintbrushes. I allow the paint to be splashed all over a canvas by the energy within and around myself. All paintings are glazed.”
What does your art mean to you?
“My art is my life, it is healing the wounds. Being in my studio I am at peace with myself and others it feels that I am much more than the body. Creating or even looking at the newly painted canvas I am free; there is no past or future, even the persona named Marek steps aside.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“Each piece I ever painted is a part of me, the invisible part which cannot be described in words.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My last solo exhibition was the best of all, not because I sold more than ever but because of the huge space. I was able to exhibit more paintings than I thought I could. see all the pieces hanging on Gallery walls together.”
Website: www.marekborkowski.com
Instagram: @marek303borkowski
