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May 1, 2009
Exhibit encapsulates B.C.
It's easy to get lost in Jewish painter Kris Borowski's artwork.
ELIZABETH NIDER
You can truly feel the gentle Vancouver breeze on your skin when you look at Kris Borowski's "Beautiful British Columbia" or the crisp autumn air that surrounds you when you look at "Vancouver Autumn." Borowski's art, now on display at the Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery, superbly captures the stunning land and seascapes of the West Coast.
At the opening of Kris Borowski: A Retrospective on April 23, Borowski's family, friends and other visitors were drawn into a world of color, charm and strong composition as they viewed the work created by a passionate, humorous and humble artist over the past decade.
Poland-born Borowski studied at the School of Architecture and Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. After completing his master's degree, he received a Ford Foundation scholarship and moved to London, England. Two years later, he moved to Rome, where he worked as an architect, one of his projects being a new wing for the Vatican Museum.
After travelling throughout Europe, Borowski then returned to England, where he established an architectural practice. In 1976, he moved to Vancouver, where he was principal of an architectural firm until 1996. He has since closed his practice and devoted his time entirely to painting.
Borowski realized that painting was the most direct, albeit difficult, path to creating that which brings lasting rewards. In his view, "art's most wonderful characteristic [is] its lasting beauty." One needs only to visit A Retrospective to see a perfect example of this lasting magnificence.
Fixated by the exquisiteness of nature, Borowski is most excited by the beauty where land meets water, which allows British Columbia to be a true inspiration. In "Blue Sail," you can feel the waves moving and the chill of the snow on the mountaintops. In this piece, the viewer will experience three very different sensations: the water is wavy and assertive, the trees are misty and cool, and the mountains are refreshing and clear.
"Vancouver Autumn" is another composition that creates a desire to jump right into the painting, much like the characters did in the film Mary Poppins, and walk along the street to smell the fresh autumn air, perhaps veering off the road to feel the crunch of aromatic leaves under one's feet. The technique Borowski uses of squeezing paint directly onto the canvas by using a syringe gives remarkable texture to the rich autumn trees. This painting truly appeals to the five senses.
Not all paintings are inspired by the B.C. landscape, however. In fact, Borowski mentioned that it may very well have been his subconscious mind that prompted him to draw, and then paint, "Red Beetle." The artist uses a different style here, in comparison to his land- and seascapes. The lines are more playful, almost cartoonish, yet they invite the observer to take a pleasant drive in this bright red beetle. After the painting was complete, Borowski actually bought a beetle himself (although it was light blue, not red), and drove it for six years, until the floor fell out and the windshield wipers stopped working.
Borowski's most recent works are abstract paintings, where his creations highlight brilliant color combinations and bold uninhibited brush strokes. The abstract piece at the Zack Gallery, "Sequence," was inspired by the emotions Borowski felt while listening to the music of Oscar Peterson.
Two other compositions that were music-inspired are "The Troubadour" and "Jazz Trio." There was a jazz club in London where a trio would play once a week. Listening to this group sparked Borowski's imagination, so he created these musical pieces that make you want to dance.
You might suppose that if an artist has his work displayed at an exhibition, then that artist is well aware of his own talent, but not in this case, it seems. Borowski modestly stated that he doesn't know if or why people like his paintings and he seemed almost surprised that people love his work.
When he paints, Borowski said he feels a sense of release and harmony. He said that what painting does for him "can't be explained in words, it's expressed in the paintings" and he can become so engrossed in the world he is creating that he gets lost in his work.
One may not know exactly what goes through Borowski's mind while these masterpieces are being composed, but one certainly can appreciate how easy it is to get lost in the artist's final creations.
Elizabeth Nider is a freelance writer living in Richmond.
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