WILHELM SASNAL IN WHITECHAPEL GALLERY, LONDON

London has always been a hot spot for contemporary art. A feature packed October saw the return of the Frieze art fair, the opening of White Cube’s flagship gallery as well as the first major UK exhibition of the great Polish artist, Wilhelm Sasnal, in Whitechapel Gallery. Despite this busy schedule, Sasnal’s exhibition, which had its preview on the 13th of October 2011, really put itself on the London arts map.

Wilhelm Sasnal, born in 1972 in Tarnów, Poland is one of the most intriguing figures of contemporary art in our time. His art has been showcased worldwide in places such as Museum of Modern Art, New York and Tate Modern, London. The subject matter of his art transgresses all boundaries as long as it is honest, as he states himself: ‘There are no rules. The only rule is that you must not cheat.’

As the curator at Whitechapel, Achim Borchardt-Hume explained during the preview, the exhibition is divided into three sections based on Sasnal’s work from 1999 - 2011. The themes range from his extensive travels around the globe, Sasnal’s own family portraits and finally issues of political significance. The first section presents artwork from the last five years including family portraits, which all curiously keep the subject’s faces hidden, along with paintings inspired by music and art masterpieces. The second part of the exhibition explores the troubled history of his native country Poland. As the artist mentioned during the preview, he doesn’t wish to victimise Poland but he feels that he cannot be indifferent to the dark chapter of Polish history affected by the Holocaust and the Second World War. Although painting will always be Sasnal’s first love, the exhibition includes his recent ventures into photography and film. Third section demonstrates this with a selection of short features films including, ‘Kiss’, which seemed to draw the majority of attention. What is specific for Sasnal’s art is that his films, paintings and photographs remain closely connected in terms of content. During the preview the artist revealed that although he was trained as a painter, he does not want to limit himself with just one art form, as he wishes to retain a healthy distance between each form of expression and allow himself to discover new places.

The success of the preview was attested by the large gathering of art enthusiasts from all over the country and beyond. Not only has Sasnal proven himself to be a truly exceptional international artist but has managed become an icon of Polish contemporary art. The hidden stories in Sasnal’s paintings can mesmerise viewers for hours as they ponder the delicate mysteries within each work. Wilhelm Sasnal once said ‘painting is not a game, not something you do just for fun; it comes with a responsibility that I take very seriously’ and though his paintings usually follow his signature style, the variety within the exhibition clearly demonstrates his sense of responsibility. The different forms of expression adopted by the artist always manages to surprise making this a must see exhibition.

Visit information:

Tuesday-Sunday 11-6 Thursday 11-

Whitechapel gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High Street London E1 7QX

Eds: Benjamin Bhattacharya-Ghosh & Mozam Khan