10 december 2024, Yves Joris
Marcin Cienski, the serenity of chaos
I love wandering. Perhaps it makes sense when you call yourself an art flâneur. Around Antwerp's Eilandje, an icy wind blows, a wind that can only exist thanks to the open space where it can rage undisturbed. The streets are more or less empty. A few joggers brave the cold, some assisted by a tailwind, others bravely boxing Boreas.
At Art Partout, Gert Junes is still busy ‘hanging’ his new exhibition. The door is invitingly open, a pleasant way to get acquainted with the work of Marcin Cienski and warm up at the same time. The Polish artist, known for his intimate yet explosive paintings, invites us with his exhibition The Barn to reflect on the discomfort hidden behind apparent tranquillity. Cienski’s oeuvre constantly balances on the interface between the everyday and the catastrophic, which is especially true for his newest work on display here.
The darkness of the barn
To many, a barn evokes warmth, safety and domesticity, especially as Christmas draws near. But in Marcin Cienski’s hands, it becomes a symbol of the unknown and threat lurking within. In his exhibition The Barn, this simple structure transforms into an imaginary place where memories, dreams and fears intertwine. Currently living and working in Minneapolis, Cienski draws inspiration for this series from remnants of earlier projects in Europe. But the exhibition is more than a collection of work; it is a carefully composed visual narrative in which the personal and the universal overlap.
Marcin Cienski, Web, 2015, Art Partout
With its weathered wooden planks and dim interior, the barn becomes a metaphor for the human mind. Just as a barn stores objects that are forgotten or hidden, the human psyche preserves memories that resurface unpredictably. In Cienski’s work, figures emerge from shadowy landscapes, teetering between dream and reality. They seem to seek stability in a world where tradition and modernity, hope and despair clash. The viewer is invited to step into this world and simultaneously see their own reflection in the mystery.
Marcin Cienski, Toyota Corolla, 2018, Art Partout
Balancing intimacy and threat
One of the most powerful elements of Cienski’s work is the tension between the familiar and the unsettling. This is masterfully illustrated in Toyota Corolla, a painting in which a man and a woman stand in an idyllic landscape. Warm sunlight caresses their faces, and their bodies lean gently toward each other, as if escaping the world for a moment. But behind them, a black plume of smoke rises, disrupting the harmony. This subtle disturbance not only raises questions about the events in the painting, but also about broader themes: the fragility of happiness, the omnipresence of loss and the unpredictability of life.
Similar to Grant Wood’s American Gothic, Cienski’s characters seem disconnected from their surroundings, trapped in their own world—both intimate and inscrutable. Their gaze—sometimes dreamy, sometimes intense—tells a story that isn’t immediately revealed. This enigmatic quality enhances the allure of the work. The artist uses light and colour to emphasise this tension: warm, inviting tones contrast with cool, sombre shadows.
The aesthetic perfection of Cienski’s technique heightens this emotional impact. His attention to detail—from the folds in clothing to the subtle texture of skin and hair—brings a hyperrealistic quality to his work. Yet, the painterly essence remains intact; the images are never overly polished, making them all the more vivid.
Marcin Cienski, Morning Hesitations, 2018, Art Partout
Memories and landscapes as narratives
In The Barn, viewers are confronted with both the beauty of Cienski’s painting and the stories embedded within. A striking example is Morning Hesitations, in which the apparent banality of the subject almost escapes notice. A chicken is about to leave the barn. The bright white of its feathers sharply contrasts with the darkness—both ominous and foreboding—of the barn. While this dark space offers protection from predators at night, during the sunlit day, that same protection becomes a threat.
Marcin Cienski, Frog Prince, 2018, Art Partout
Another intriguing aspect is how Cienski experiments with time and space. His paintings feel like frozen moments from a bigger story, fragments viewers must piece together. This is particularly evident in Frog Prince: a child shields its eyes from bright light, which almost seems to act as a menacing presence. Smoke plumes rise in the background, perhaps echoing the earlier-mentioned Toyota Corolla. The works continue to raise questions: Who are these figures? What brought them here? Where are they going?
The barn serves as an anchor in this narrative, a space where past, present and future intersect. It is a place of transformation—both physical and emotional—and simultaneously a mirror of the human psyche.
The experience of The Barn
The careful arrangement of the works at Art Partout enhances the impact of Cienski’s art. The space invites contemplation, allowing viewers to slowly absorb the subtle details and complexity of each painting. Each piece feels like an invitation to dialogue, not only between the characters on the canvas, but also between the painting and the viewer.
Cienski’s The Barn is more than an exhibition; it is an experience. The paintings evoke an emotional and intellectual response, inviting viewers to reflect on what it means to be human in an ever-changing world. With extraordinary technical skill and a deep sensitivity to the human condition, Cienski offers us not just images, but a lens through which to view the world. The Barn is an exhibition not only to see, but to feel—an invitation to lose yourself in a world of beauty and mystery.
Marcin Cienski, The Barn, Art Partout
