The abs­tract works by Sławomir Elsner (born 1976) and Julian  Stańczak (1928–2017) are being shown together for the first time.  They are separated by half a century, but share a belief in the  univer­sality of the lan­guage of abs­trac­tion and its experimental  poten­tial. In both instan­ces, the final effect results from a complex  and time-​consuming pain­ting process. The acrylic pain­tings by  Stańczak, inspired by theories of per­cep­tion, manipulate the  sense of sight and focus on an exploration of optic effects. Elsner’s  water­colours are created through the application of successive  layers of paint, but their ultimate form is also partly the result of  chance. The illusory, seduc­tive pain­tings by the two artists act  as a kind of cur­tain con­cealing the artists’ com­plicated paths  through life—the experience of emigration and dual identity. 

At age 12, Julan Stańczak was exiled to Siberia by the nkwd along  with his family. Forced labor and ill­ness during his exile in Siberia  caused him to lose the use of his right hand, and for the rest of his  life, Stańczak pain­ted only with one hand. Via Africa, he reached  the United States in 1950, where he com­pleted his art studies and  developed a career as one of the key figures in american op art. 

Sławomir Elsner is originally from Silesia, studied in Kassel, now  lives and works in Berlin. He held his first photography exhibition  at Raster in 2001. Over the last 20 years, he has specialized in  drawing and water­colors, rein­ter­pretations of iconic works of  modern pain­ting and experiments with abstraction.