ADAM LEWCZUK PRESENTS WINZINGEN-IKONE

ADAM LEWCZUK PRESENTS WINZINGEN-IKONE
Written by Jackie Smith

Adam Lewczuk brings 80s pop culture references screaming into the present with his latest exhibition, Winzigen-Ikone.
A departure from the usual idyllic seaside landscapes and portraits which are part of the mainstream art culture in Redcliffe, Winzigen-Ikone is a collection of small works heavily influenced by Adam Lewczuk’s trademark street art style.
‘It’s an exhibition of iconic images that influenced me in my life, growing up,’ Lewczuk says. Whilst paying homage to said iconic images, he adds his own unique flavour to the works. One, after all, does not recall Snow White ever brandishing a machine gun, nor Wonder Woman decked out in full KISS makeup.
Working as a freelance artist accepting large-scale commissions, Lewczuk’s previous work has been spotted at Talara Skate Park in Arcoona (2002), the Caloundra Library Youth Space (2008) and was featured in Drawn Together, an exhibition of projection art at the Caloundra Fringe Festival earlier this year. So, when it came to working on the smaller collection for Winzigen-Ikone, Lewczuk found the challenge exciting, if ironic. ‘It’s funny because some of the work is quite large,’ he says, gesturing to an A0 canvas of Frankenstein’s monster.
Housed at St Baker Studio in Redcliffe, one could say that the space was made for a collection like Leuwzuk’s, whose use of colour in this collection makes the pieces almost leap off the wall. Unlike other galleries, St Baker Studio owner Jo St Baker prides herself on being able to showcase the quirky and unique artists of the region, who want to exhibit their work locally, and may not fit the mould offered by other galleries. Its industrial interior and minimalistic approach to furnishings allow Lewczuk’s work to speak for itself … but what will it say to you?
It is said that art is open to interpretation, and this is particularly evident in Lewczuk’s collection. He is no stranger to challenging people’s perceptions, and enjoys taking different cultural images and blending them to create something completely different. Rebelling against an age saturated in digital technology, Lewczuk’s work takes patrons back to a time when things were less so, allowing them to engage with the work and question the elements with which they can identify.
‘It’s great to have an artist like Adam who can remind us not to lose sight of the nostalgic and our cultural heritage,’ says fellow artist John Waldron.
The exhibition is held at St Baker Studio at Mon Komo, Redcliffe until December 14th 2014. For more information, call 0417 573 737.

Credite Jackie Smith