Roman Ciéslewicz

Roman Ciéslewicz (1930–1996) is a lesser-known Polish artist who worked across collage, photography, and painting. As a graphic designer, he is recognised for his poster art, constructivist style, and connections to the Bauhaus movement. His approach to deconstructing and reconstructing photographs challenges the conventional practices within the medium. I find inspiration in both his artistic viewpoint and creative outputs.

Roman Cieślewicz, Wiezien, 1944

Roman Ciéslewicz, PORTRAIT-ROBOT DE LA POÉSIE, 1978

“I use all manner of techniques: photography, painting and watercolour, but not drawing. I have a constant source of inspiration: circular forms. I’ve often used the offset screen … to focus on a detail of a photographic enlargement. The flexibility and round form of the screen dots make it possible to bring out each gesture of the subject. Also, because I couldn’t afford silk-screen printing equipment, I used felt pens to fill out the areas between the screens. I effectively made the screen dots by hand. A lack of equipment and the need to visualise my ideas immediately resulted in a repetitive reproduction of mechanical techniques. I find the many imperfections of the hand-made version very pleasing”.

— Roman Ciéslewicz, 1993 (Eye Magazine n.d.)

Keywords

Photography, Graphic art, Poster art, Bauhaus, Surrealism, Painting, Watercolour, Inspiration, Circular forms, Offset screen, Photographic enlargement, Flexibility, Screen dots make, Gesture, Silk-screen, Equipment, Visualise, Ideas, Repetition, Reproduction, Mechanical, Imperfection, Hand-made

Bibliography

Ciéslewicz, Roman. ‘Reputations: Roman Ciéslewicz’. Interview by MargotRouard-Snowman. Eye Magazine, 1993. http://www.eyemagazine.com/feature/article/reputations-roman-cieslewicz.

Ciéslewicz, Roman. 1944. Wiezien (The Prisoner). Image. https://www.moma.org/collection/works/122665.

Cieslewicz, Roman. 1978. PORTRAIT-ROBOT DE LA POÉSIE. Image. https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/PORTRAIT-ROBOT-DE-LA-POESIE/A80FDEBDFB492859.