The fragile Slav

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Polish art speaks like nothing else of the Slavic spirit, a race that is pleasure seeking but always shot through with zal. There is no English word for zal, but it demonstrates the fragile nature of the emotional spirit of the Pole. When I think of the Slavic spirit, I always think of the genius that is Chopin.

The Slavic spirit is seared with notes of despair, and there is a saying in Poland that you never ask anyone how their day is going - because you will be told in no uncertain terms!

Nature and the overbearing presence of history on Poland has helped draw the Slavic spirit out into the tense opening.

All fine artists like some sun and light, but Poland produces more of the dark types - it is almost like mother nature has turned her eye away from Poland. Severity is a famous Slavic mood, and to sit in any Polish house after an argument is a tough gig for anyone.

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Source

Zygmunt Ajdukiewicz: Płonący

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The hordes cometh

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The Polish winters are harsh and the summers are baking hot. This is a race that is used to extremes. The landscape colours don't vary that much, and this is evident in the darker, duller tones used by artists like Ajdukiewicz. The flat landscapes don't make things any easier either. Only in the far South does the relief really change into the Tatra mountains.

History has indeed been crueller to the Slav than mother nature ever was, and you can feel this in any art gallery you walk into in Krakow or Warsaw. For centuries the Slav has been the poor victim, and his DNA still appears to be alive and kicking even in Polish modern art.

The old saying in Poland was 'In Spring the hordes will come!' ... thankfully the modern hordes are the hen parties and the short weekenders that lumber off the cheap Easyjet flights. What would Ajdukiewicz make of all that colour nowadays? The mind baffles!

@mindhunter

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