Joanna Buchowska is an outstanding artist who has embarked on a remarkable artistic journey: she swapped traditional painting tools, brushes and oil paints, for paper and glue. After decades of working with classical painting, she felt naturally drawn to the field of paper art.
What once served only as a sketching tool has now become an integral part of her creative process. Buchowska’s works on paper have developed into independent works that deserve recognition in their own right.
Buchowska uses a wide variety of magazines, of which she has an extensive collection, as well as different types of paper such as handmade tissue paper to create her paper paintings. The paper is usually torn instead of cut. The repeated tearing and gluing of the paper gives the surface a patina. The artist supplements the paper with acrylic, ink, colored pencils and other materials. Through these materials she breathes life into her works, giving them texture, depth and visual interest.
In her paintings, Buchowska often enters into a dialog with her favorite old masters, paying homage to their legacy while adding her own unique style and perspective. She also explores specific themes, such as the exploration of crime scenes (2018-2019) or the appreciation of female scientists (2021-2022). In addition, she is particularly fascinated by the interplay between architecture and nature, where the rules of statics are hardly or not at all observed.
Form and color are at the heart of Buchowska’s artistic exploration. At the beginning there is a loose sketch. The artist has an idea of what she intends and does not approach the work spontaneously. The spontaneity develops more in a later phase of the development process of a paper painting. The initial sketch often undergoes considerable variation, while Buchowska welcomes the fluidity and development of her work.
Joanna Buchowska’s artistic journey demonstrates her passion for paper art, her ability to engage in artistic dialogues, and her fearless exploration of form, color and thematic concepts. Her unique approach and dedication to her craft make her an artist who continually pushes the boundaries of her own creativity.
At the exhibition ‘à bout portant’ (French: up close), you can get up close and personal with the work of Joanna Buchowska. Her works invite the viewer to discover the fascinating world of paper and its diverse expressive possibilities.