As an admirer of Zdzisław Beksiński’s dystopian surrealist work, his tragic life story still haunts me. Beksiński was a Polish painter, photographer, and sculptor who created some of the most thought-provoking and visually striking art of the 20th century.
Born 1929 in Sanok, Poland, Beksiński first discovered his love for art at age 15. He studied architecture at the Krakow Polytechnic and, later, at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. He began experimenting with abstract and surrealistic painting at the academy. In the 1960s, his work began to gain recognition, and he quickly became one of the most prominent figures in the Polish art scene. His paintings were exhibited in galleries and museums across Europe.
With almost 708 artworks created, it isn’t easy to fully interpret the meanings of Beksiński’s pieces. However, certain themes are prevalent in his work.
He was also known as “The Nightmare Artist” and lived up to his name by depicting the intense fear and terror one experiences in nightmares. His paintings capture these dreams’ uncontrollable and unsettling nature, amplifying the primal fear they evoke.
Many of his artworks feature towering spectral figures that loom over the viewer. The paintings possess a slow, hazy atmosphere that creates the illusion of time standing still.
The atmosphere evokes depression, confusion, and disorientation as if everything is moving slowly. The viewer may feel suffocated, dizzy, and as if they are in a completely unfamiliar dimension, far removed from reality.
He was also a skilled photographer and sculptor, and his works in these mediums were equally well-received.
His photographs often featured twisted and distorted images of the human body, while his sculptures were made of metal and were often large and imposing. One of his famous sculptures is “The Head,” made of steel and displayed in the city’s center.
Religious themes appear in many of Beksinski’s paintings, with imagery of crucified individuals and references to heaven and hell. However, in the Beksinski Audio Tapes, he stated that he is not religious.
Rather, he believed his art could be interpreted as having more of a metaphysical than religious meaning.
Despite the success, his life was plagued by tragedy. 1985 his wife died of cancer, and his son, Tomasz, committed suicide in 1999. These events deeply affected him and his art, which became darker and more pessimistic.
On February 21, 2005, Beksiński’s life was cut short when he was murdered in his Warsaw apartment. The perpetrator, a 19-year-old man, was a friend of his son’s and had been living with the family. The man was convicted of the murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The death of Zdzisław Beksiński was a great loss for the art world. He was a visionary artist whose works continue to be admired and studied today. His tragic story serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing the ones we love.
Influence on me
Beksiński’s art has profoundly influenced my creative pursuits, particularly as a hobbyist musician creating dark and eerie synth-scapes. His works have inspired me to explore my music’s themes of dystopian horror, death, tragedy, and the fragility of life. The themes in his art perfectly resonate with me. The use of contrasting colors, twisted images, and a sense of unease in the paintings has influenced my creative approach to sound design, and I will always be grateful for his impact on my art.
Epilogue
Zdzisław Beksiński’s life was a complex and tragic one. Despite the darkness and pain he experienced, he created some of the most thought-provoking and visually striking art of the 20th century. His works are considered some of the most valuable and collectible of any Polish artist. And his legacy lives on forever.