Roman Klonek - profile, The gardener - 2010

Roman Klonek

Illustration

January 9, 2015

Polish artist Roman Klonek inspired by cartoons from his childhood creates whimsical illustrations, and woodcut prints. The colorful and peculiar works feature a range of strange creatures that have come straight out of the artist's imagination. Between half-human and half-animal creatures who look like they are derived from his own mythology, Klonek creates artworks that the artist himself describes as a "bizarre balancing act between propaganda, folklore, and pop."

Dream World Art

Roman Klonek was born in 1969 in Kattowitz, Poland. Thanks to his father who had an extensive collection of Russian and Polish Super 8 cartoons, such as Nu pogodi and Bolek i Lolek cartoons. he got a really good education in old aesthetics. However, he discovered this later in life when he saw some of them, and they evoked a sense of déjà vu. Additionally, the styles and colors of old kept appearing in his early works. By mixing the cultural roots of contemporary and a strong Japanese influence, Klonek has created entire worlds that invite viewers to take a stroll through them. Full of strange creatures, totalistic patterns, and unidentifiable objects, they speak the language of subconsciousness. In the 1990s, while studying Graphic Arts in Duesseldorf, he discovered woodcut printing and fully incorporated it into his artistic expression. In an interview for Creative Boom, Klonek said:

Typical woodcuts have an aura of seriousness about them, so I have the impression that I'm shifting my drawings when I carve them. I like to counteract this with my motifs, which often come from the comic and cartoon world.

Woodcut Printing

In a world overrun with digital technologies, the artist actually enjoys utilizing mediums that allow him to create "something analog and manual in the digital age." One of the reasons for this is the existence of natural flaws in analog media, which, once he learned to embrace them, became an opportunity for artistic experimentation. When combined, all the qualities of woodcut printing bring a certain kind of charm that all are used to, as it has been used for a long time. Thus all the works seem to come from an old story.

Roman Klonek's favorite technique is the "lost cut." With it, he is able to print all the colors with just one plate instead of creating a number of them for each color. However, it does have its flaws, as it does not have a lot of room for improvisation. Once the print is done, it is impossible to add another color.

Roman Klonek's Exhibitions

Throughout his career, Klonek has had numerous solo exhibitions all around the world, including Colorcuts (2022) at Heitsch Galerie in Munich, Foreign Affairs (2021) at Urban Spree in Berlin, and Cut the Crap (2018) at Urban Spree in Berlin. Group shows include Future? Now! (2023) at Heitsch Galerie in Munich and ONLINE Modern Folk (2020) at Outré Gallery in Melbourne.

Roman Klonek lives and works in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Featured image: Roman Klonek. Copyright of the artist
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