Exodus: Peter Barelkowski

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

In his Exodus series Peter Barelkowski presents his work on the always relevant topic of displacement and migration. Consistent with his minimalist style, these paintings outline silhouettes, shadows, figures with their belongings moving in single file across an endless landscape. The symbol of the ladder often appears in Barelkowski’s work and it hovers above or below the horizon offering a path that seems to go unnoticed by the travelers. With a subtle change of colours and a shift in the placement of the horizon, the mood changes – the landscape feels like another time, another place. This story, this exodus, has no beginning and no end. Barelkowski confronts the absurdity of political powers that repeatedly throw humanity into the haunting dance macabre of war and annihilation. Although, deriving from specific historical events, his work works convey a universal message.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Peter Barelkowski started experimenting in painting in the 70’s and in 1975 he established his first studio. His art education began with an MA from the University of Poznan ( 1977 ) and continued at Goldsmith College (Poznan, Poland), Ontario College of Art in Toronto (1985 – 1988) and less formally – in London, England ( Camden Arts Centre ) and Norway, where he was street performing for tourists in Oslo during the late 70’s. His paintings are in private collections in Europe, USA, Canada and Korea. His studio is currently located in Toronto, Ontario