Jakub Ciężki How does velvet smell?

How does velvet smell like?   

Can the scent of velvet be visualized? This question accompanied Jakub Ciężki as he worked on his latest paintings. The starting point for his abstract compositions was a fascination with the world of unusual scent combinations—a passion that has long permeated his creative practice and influences the way he thinks about painting. As the artist himself admits, it is difficult for him to separate the act of painting from sensual experience. Sometimes, a scent becomes the initial impulse for a work; other times, he thinks of colors through the lens of fragrance, experimenting with how they interact and resonate.

Some of Ciężki’s paintings are titled after perfumes by the niche brand Slumberhouse—such as Norne (2021), inspired by a fragrance meant to evoke the northern landscapes of Europe: forests, pine needles, damp earth, moss, and darkness.

The exhibition at MOLSKI Gallery in Poznań highlights the surprising ways in which abstract painting and the world of scent intersect. Their perception is rooted in deeply personal, sensory impressions shaped by time, memory, and experience.

On display are Ciężki’s paintings from recent years, including several never-before-shown compositions. All share a common thread: an artistic attempt to answer the question of what velvet might smell like.

curator: Paulina Olszewska

exhibition: 19.09-10.10.2024 
opening: 18.09.2024 at 6 pm