Slavek Pytraczyk
Born in Bielsko-Biała, Poland
Lives & works in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

My current process involves combining multiple layers of imagery often showcasing themes of urban decay and abandonment. These urban neglected spaces often seen as "eyesores" are prevalent in my current body of work where I attempt to call attention to what I consider insignificant spaces. By applying several images along side and over top of one another, I attempt to draw attention to spaces or structures that often are overlooked. The process of using multiple images often creates an abstraction or a less representational quality in my work lending itself to more a more imaginative narration, adding ambiguity to each piece.  Many of the formal elements in my work symbolic in nature and at some points self-reflexive, alluding to the notion that I am a painter despite of the fact that the image may not inherently look like a painting.

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Another recurring theme in my work is exploring the theme of opposites and subject matter that may not usually be inherently found together in the same location or space. Natural or living elements vs. human made structures is an area that I continually am involved in placing together within my works. I often look at how these opposing subjects can cohesively be blended together, or how can they play off one another or whether I can create a harmony or tension with them.

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I am interested in exploring the relationships between photo, paint and other mediums, often trying to blur the lines of how these fields of practice interact. Combining images of factual elements with more imaginative or fictionalized imagery is a another theme that can be found within my work.

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