Looking at oneself remains, and will probably always remain, one of the first, most archetypal, and fundamental perspectives for artists. A mirror and a piece of paper, a mirror and a camera are the most patient participants in the artistic process.
Self-portraits are exceptional; they are usually created not on commission, as is often the case in artistic production, but out of an internal compulsion. They arise from an inner mandate to explore one’s own body, face, as well as character and personality. Such works were the youthful graphic self-portraits of Rembrandt, showcasing different hairstyles and headgear, as well as facial expressions, twitches, and grimaces. Dürer drew his first self-portrait at the age of thirteen. It’s practically impossible to count Picasso’s self-portraits. The Austrian Rudolf Hauser made them the sole subject of his art. Such an approach may be an aberration, but on the other hand, it is also so easy to imagine.
But why start with this? As we said, there is something primordial and foundational in the self-portrait perspective for art and artists alike. Furthermore, in the case of the competition organized by the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola, this start can bring monetary prizes to the winners, and those recognized can participate in the exhibition and in a publication, namely the accompanying catalog. These are significant distinctions for young artists just beginning their artistic journey. They cannot determine their future decisions, but they may influence the choices made, not just in art.
A self-portrait is a peculiar document, a great testimony to changing fashions and artistic strategies. On one hand, it can be the truest and most sincere of artistic documents; on the other hand, it has always been a field for mystification, self-creation, and the manifestation of one’s personality, temperament, artistic preferences, sexual inclinations, taste, or often a lack thereof.
From the beginning of the competition, artistic patrons were selected. Initially, this had a somewhat “assigned topic” character, so everyone prepared works inspired by Malczewski, Boznańska, or Dürer. Over time, young artists were given the freedom to choose: they can be inspired by any artist. This freedom of choice has significantly raised the artistic level of the competition, its diversity, and richness.
In recent editions, paintings and video works have almost alternated as winners. And despite the massive number of photographs being created, it is somewhat regrettable to admit that there has not been a single photographic work or set of photographic works—which can also be submitted—that gained full recognition from the jury. The same goes for sculptural works. Graphics won in one of the competition editions.
Each exhibition is, to some extent, a reflection of the tastes and preferences of its curator. Therefore, I will not hide that the jubilee exhibition I prepared for the 10th anniversary of the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola is to a certain degree a reflection of my personal artistic preferences and inclinations.
At the same time, in choosing the works, I tried to maintain a far-reaching objectivity and, while searching among the awarded and selected works for the exhibition, to showcase those that are the most valuable, artistically intriguing, and fulfilled. However, since there are no clear criteria determining artistic choices, I am left alone with the selection I have prepared.
Another matter is the organizational issue, independent of the curator’s will or the organizational capabilities of the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola.
Despite my sincerest intentions, it was not possible to bring all the works that had found favor with the jury in previous editions to the current exhibition. Therefore, unfortunately, not only conscious choices or the tastes of the jury and the curator determined its final shape, but also chance and, in some cases, technical possibilities.
Let all this not discourage us. For here we can see what young art looks like in Poland and beyond; after all, submissions to the competition also come from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Hungary, and Italy.
Not all competition laureates make great careers. Career, success, and fortune are the result of so many variables that it is difficult to speak of them directly. Unfortunately, it is not only objective factors that decide this; often, it is quite the opposite—irrational ones. At the same time, for art to be art—something strange, non-obvious, irrational, and unpredictable—those unmeasurable elements must remain in it. And that is as it should be.
So then: Self-Portraits to Start.
