An art-form of resistance

"Present-day painting finds meaning in everyday life, in repetition, fragmentation, in playing with historical styles. It does not aspire to be beautiful in the traditional way," says Agnieszka Morawińska, the curator of an exhibition currently being shown in Warsaw's Zachęta National Gallery of Art, which focuses on Polish painting over the last six years.

The work of more than 60 contemporary Polish artists from various generations and environments is on display. There was only one condition - the paintings had to be created in the 21st century. Thus, the history of painting is not the focus of the exhibition, and, according to the exhibition's organizers, the works of the masters do not outshine those of their disciples.

The exhibition gathers many different styles, and shows how painters understand their art today. "For a small group of artists from the oldest generation, painting is still a way to reach their essence of being, it is a kind of prayer," says Morawińska.

Despite the fact that in recent decades painting has been pushed aside to the margins of artistic life, exhibition officials say the show proves that this was unjust. "Painting, as is the case with all art, although it comes from a traditional framework, is still important, not only as a form of resistance to the rate of change, but also as a human voice breaking through the cacophony of mechanical sounds," says Morawińska.

Polish Painting of the 21st Century is open until February 25.