The show, titled Natural Matters, features a selection of works by up-and-coming Polish sculptor Jan Musiałowski, who investigates matter as a living force—dynamic, unruly and shaped by time.
"Being a sculptor is about understanding the language of matter—how it communicates through form, texture and weight, as well as how it bears the imprint of time," art historian Stanisław Małecki says in an introduction to the exhibition. Photo: Polish Radio
The works on display invite the viewer to reflect on the dialogue between artistic endeavour and natural forces, highlighting the artist’s deep engagement with materials such as stone, steel and wood.
"Being a sculptor is about understanding the language of matter—how it communicates through form, texture and weight, as well as how it bears the imprint of time," art historian Stanisław Małecki says in an introduction to the exhibition.
He adds that Musiałowski’s works “reveal material as a vessel of hidden energy and primal tension.”
The show, titled Natural Matters, features a selection of works by up-and-coming Polish sculptor Jan Musiałowski, who investigates matter as a living force—dynamic, unruly and shaped by time. Photo: Polish Radio
The sculptures on display combine roughly hewn forms and polished surfaces, drawing on both organic and industrial elements.
Themes of order and chaos, construction and decay, run throughout the exhibition. Every mark left by the artist’s tools appears intentional—an imprint of struggle and transformation.
Musiałowski combines wood with layered steel, creating works that evoke geological processes or cosmic collisions.
Layering of steel filings
His signature technique of layering steel filings creates the impression that the pieces have formed through natural metamorphosis rather than intentional artistic design.
Each piece is meticulously constructed over hours of work with an electric metal-cutting saw, as the artist methodically builds up layers of steel particles, conjuring up the image of volcanic accretion.
With each sweep of the machine, a cascade of sparks and filings rains down, gradually shaping the sculpture into an abstract form that evokes harmony and balance.
Harmony and balance: Jan Musiałowski's signature technique of layering steel filings gives the impression that the pieces have formed through natural metamorphosis rather than intentional artistic design. Photo: Polish Radio
Polish sculptor Jan Musiałowski (right). Photo courtesy of Warsaw's XX1 Gallery/Ignacy Skwarcan
One of the exhibition's centrepieces, Cycle, exemplifies this fusion of organic and abstract forms. It evokes a sense of continuity, erosion and rebirth—inviting viewers to reflect on the cyclical nature of transformation.
'Cycle': a meditation on materiality and form at the "Natural Matters" exhibition. Photo: Polish Radio
In Growth and Bloom, Musiałowski juxtaposes decaying wood with a precisely engineered steel structure, creating a powerful dialogue between decomposition and creation. The result is a striking symbiosis, where natural and industrial elements merge into a form that feels almost alive.
'Growth and Bloom': A striking symbiosis of natural and industrial. Photo: Polish Radio
In Found Signal, the artist carves into sandstone to expose its inner core. Reminiscent of ancient totems or Neolithic relics, the piece serves as a quiet meditation on power, erosion and the passage of time.
Themes of order and chaos, construction and decay, run throughout the exhibition. Every mark left by the artist's tools appears intentional—an imprint of struggle and transformation.
The show, curated by Eliza Nadulska (pictured), runs until May 30 at the XX1 Gallery near Warsaw's city centre. Photo: Polish Radio
Musiałowski’s sculptures act as a bridge between the raw essence of matter and its sculptural potential, offering a contemplative view of the forces that shape both the natural world and the creative process.
The show, curated by Eliza Nadulska, runs until May 30 at the XX1 Gallery near Warsaw's city centre.
Exhibition curator Eliza Nadulska shares her take on Musiałowski's "Found Signal." Photo: Polish Radio
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Source: galeriaxx1.pl