“All These Waves” is the first solo exhibition in Italy by Dominika Kowynia (1978, Sosnowiec, Poland). The exhibition brings together a collection of recent paintings that the artist has conceived, drawing inspiration from issues close to her, such as feminism, physical and emotional emancipation, as well as history, identity and personal boundaries.
Interweaving literature and current events with fragments from her own personal history, Kowynia’s work provides a critical reading of the present time. Specifically, her artistic research is driven by issues related to the contemporary Polish context: feminist struggles, migration issues, social inequities as well as the climate and environmental crisis. Transitioning from an intimate sphere to a global perspective, the artist juxtaposes autobiographical events with collective concerns, portraying not only her own history and that of her homeland, but also that of a world in which personal events contribute to forming universal experience.
On the occasion of the gallery exhibition, Kowynia presents a selection of previously unseen works that explore the concept of femininity, starting from the condition of women in Poland in light of the restrictive policies adopted by recent conservative governments regarding reproductive issues and civil rights.
Drawing from personal experience and the feeling of anger felt since adolescence in response to gender disparities and the lack of role models challenging the roles traditionally assigned to women, the artist highlights the legacy of a patriarchal culture still deeply rooted in society. She does this through dense and reflective paintings, in which women are portrayed in company or situations of mutual exchange. It is not the representation of an idyll, but rather a suspension from what happens in the real world. The atmosphere is silent and, at the same time, charged with ambiguity and emotional tension.
This intensity is reflected in the title of the exhibition “All These Waves,” an expression chosen to indicate the spread of a collective feeling encapsulated both in the works on display and in the female experience itself. Evocative of a plural and perpetual motion, the title brings to mind the strength of feminist struggles throughout history as well as today’s battles for the acknowledgement of one’s rights. Through a spontaneous and intuitive painting process, Dominika Kowynia presents a plurality of voices that merge into a single, powerful wave recounting the existence of each one of us. These are the waves of the sea, of time, of struggles, of freedom and of words.
at Renata Fabbri, Milan
until May 18, 2024