left: Tablecloth 2; right: Tablecloth 7; Both works pigment marker, acrylic on linen, 100 x 180cm, 2004.

My work interrogates the phenomenon of existence. I attempt to archive a realisation of being - of being present, within space, time, and language. Forming a registry of the everyday, not working in an artist’s studio but in various private and public spaces where life goes on.

Drawing is the basis of all my practice, extending towards performance, interactive situations, installation, sound and moving image; I refer to it as cross-disciplinary drawing. I draw my environment as I see it, in real time - tracing and re-tracing the visible. My aim is to record continuous time, the present moment and my mind’s realization of now, attempting to translate my living energy into the drawn line. The line is processed by my sense of sight and communicated through my body. I try to draw what I look at, before it is classified by my mind, memory, and knowledge. 

The line is shaped into outlines of real things that my eye registers by its every glance. Accumulated outlines of objects and shapes that were recorded by my countless singular glances, and at the same time archived by my moving hand, building up a substantive layering.
I don’t emphasize any elements or structure, nor do I pre-design compositions, I believe that the different shapes within observed reality carry equal importance. Using line as a vehicle for presence in time and space I create performative drawings; works which are intrinsically linked to notions of human existence, of personal space, familiar (safe) spaces, and unfamiliar (strange) space.

With performative drawing, the process is not only a catalyst for the creation of an image, it is a vital part of the work and a resulting image becomes the byproduct of the situation. The process is exposed, presented to the viewer. The viewer is the participant in the social situation, documented through drawing; the viewer becomes part of the drawing.  

In the moment of drawing, apart from looking at reality, my mind is focused simply on the physical actions of the body in space and time. I draw to document, to archive, presence manifested by my body’s almost ‘mechanical’ functions, almost autonomic. Through this drawing process I aim to archive human body functions, generally taken for granted but vital - abilities like: making a step, sitting down, lying down, rising up, leaning against, swallowing, breathing. We usually do not think about these actions, unless one becomes sick, disabled, old, and the actions are difficult or impossible to perform. 

I am interested in mind realization of presence in social context, in circumstances where one’s personal space is shared with someone, with the other. Through performance series like Tablecloth and Shared Space I archive the experience of sharing: physically being part of, and being present within the context of an ordinary, every-day situation. These performances explore a mutual relationship, friendship, and intimacy, but also investigate the social environment in which we live, and engage with a growing awareness, of anxieties and fears concerning safe/unsafe human relationships.  

Gosia Wlodarczak 2009


above: gallery installation view, 2009.



left: Shared Space, L, 2005, pigment marker, acrylic on linen, framed, 162 x 205cm
right: Lawrence Armchair, Graphite, 2006/9, 4 panels, pigment marker on linen, 160 x 150cm


GOSIA WLODARCZAK

Born 1959, Banie, Poland
1996 Settled in Australia
2005 Lives and works in Melbourne, Victoria

Education & Professional Affiliations

1979-1984
Study at Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan, Poland. Faculty: Drawing, Painting and Graphic Art

1984
Master of Fine Arts, with Distinction, Academy of Fine Arts, Poznan, Poland
         
Solo Exhibitions since 1999

2009                 
SOMEONE AND I, Greenaway Art Gallery, Adelaide, Australia
CONVERSATION, Helen Maxwell Gallery, Canberra, Australia

2008                 
SHARED SPACE NEW YORK, Kentler International Drawing Space, Brooklyn NY, USA
SAFETY ZONE SZCZECIN, OFFicyna place of art Gallery, Szczecin, Poland
CINDERELLA II – THE DREAMER, SASA Gallery University of SA, Adelaide, Australia
CINDERELLA II – THE DREAMER, Arc One Gallery, Melbourne, Australia

2007                 
LOOKING, Boutwell Draper Gallery, Sydney, Australia

2006                 
LIVING EDGE, Gallery East, North Fremantle, Australia
SKIN OF THE WALL, Helen Maxwell Gallery, Canberra, Australia
SHARED SPACE, Arc One Gallery, Melbourne, Australia

2005                 
SPACE ACTIVE, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Australia
THIS IS WHAT WAS THERE, Arc One Gallery, Melbourne, Australia     
                              
2004                 
NOW, Gallery East, North Fremantle, Australia
DAWN TO DUSK, Arc One/Span Galleries, Melbourne, Australia
SAFETY ZONE, Helen Maxwell Gallery, Canberra, Australia

2003                 
Magnolia, Span Galleries, Melbourne, Australia

2002                 
Drawing Continuous, Gallery East, North Fremantle, Australia
Meeting You There, Space Untitled, New York, USA
Graffiti for Interiors, Span Galleries, Melbourne, Australia

2001                  
Award Works, Moores Building, Fremantle, Australia

2000                 
Cartography, Roar Studios, Melbourne, Australia
Curiouser & Curiouser - Alice, (two persons show with Sandra Lee Murphy) Impressions Gallery, Perth, Australia

1999                 
The Surfaces of Time, Impressions Gallery PMWA, Perth, Australia
Language, Moores Building, Fremantle, Australia

Performances (public)

2009                 
THE SOFA ;   28 July atCarriageWorks, Sydney, Australia
TABLECLOTH FOR 10 ;   16 March a tMuseum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia

2008                 
SHARED SPACE NEW YORK ;   26, 27, 28, 29, 30 March at Kentler International Drawing Space, Brooklyn NY, USA
THE BENCH ;  3, 4 October at COFAspace Gallery, Collage of Fine Arts, University of NSW, Sydney, Australia

2005                 
PERSONAL SPACE/SAFETY ZONE 8;  12 September atSouth Australian School of Art, UniSA, Adelaide, Australia

2004                 
PERSONAL SPACE/SAFETY ZONE 7;  9 July atHelen Maxwell Gallery ,Canberra, Australia

2003                 
PERSONAL SPACE/SAFETY ZONE 3;  15 July atSpan Galleries Melbourne, Australia
PERSONAL SPACE/SAFETY ZONE 2;  31 May and 1 June onThe Rocks Sydney, Australia

Video Screenings

2009                 
DESIRE 1, 2, 3, Bellingham Electronic Arts Festival (BEAF), WWV VU Gallery, Western Washington University, USA

2008                 
PERFORMANCES , Kentler International Drawing Space, Brooklyn NY, USA

2005                 
T-NDJ and UNNAMED, video installation, International Drawing Conference, Hyatt Regency, Adelaide, Australia

Group Exhibitions since 2003

2009                 
I WALK THE LINE: NEW AUSTRALIAN DRAWING (curator Christine Morrow) Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia                
Burnie Print Prize 2009, Tasmania, Australia
THE FELT TIP PEN SHOW (curator Rachel Jessie-Rea), Rear View Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
 SOUND VISION 2009 Bellingham Electronic Arts Festival (BEAF), WWV VU Gallery, Western Washington University, USA
HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE Transcultural Exchange, Boston MA, USA
EXQUISITE CORPS International  Project, (curator Mary March)Little Galley, Sage Colleges, Albany NY, USA
DEGREES OF DENSITY  (curator Marylin Symmes) Kentler International Drawing Space, Brooklyn NY, USA
EXQUISITE CORPS (curator Mary March, Constantin Severin)Biblioteca Bucovine (Suceava), Romania
ENTROPY (touring exhibition), Stara Prochownia Gallery, Warszawa, Poland
Hazelhurst Art on Paper Prize, Huzelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre, Australia
City of Darebin La Trobe University Acquisitive Art Prize, Bundoora Homestead Art Centre, Melbourne, Australia
City of Hobart Art Prize 2009, Tasmanian Museum and Gallery, Hobart, Australia
IKEA HOME PROJECT CarriageWorks, Sydney, Australia

2008                 
THE TALLIS FOUNDATION 2008 National Works on Paper, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Australia
KONTRAPUNKT Performers Festival, Szczecin, Poland
ENTROPY (touring exhibition), Consulate General of the Republic of Poland, New York, USA
6th 100 Works on Paper Benefit, Kentler International Drawing Space, Brooklyn NY, USA
MULTIPLEX, Boutwell Draper Gallery, Sydney, Australia
Fremantle Print Award, Fremantle Art Centre, Australia
NEW SOCIAL COMMENTARY '08, Warrnambool Regional Gallery, Australia
The Robert Jacks Drawing Prize '08, Bendigo Art Gallery, Australia
MARKING TIME COFAspace Gallery,  Collage of Fine Arts, University of NSW, Sydney, Australia
THE SWISS HOUSE Project Space/Spare Room, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
JADA Jacaranda Drawing Award, Grafton Regional Gallery, touring exhibition, Australia

2007                 
CHANCE & NECESSITY (curator: Isabelle Dervaux), Kentler International Drawing Space, Brooklyn, NY, USA
TRACES Contemporary Drawing Project, Central TAFE Gallery, Perth, Australia
5OF5 Benalla Regional Gallery, Victoria, Australia
SUMMER SHOW, Arc One Gallery, Melbourne, Australia

2006                 
The Dobell Prize for Drawing, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Fleurieu Peninsula Biennale, South Australia
THE FREE PRESS, Röda Sten, Göteborg, Sweden
Hutchins Art on Paper Prize, Long Gallery, Hobart, Australia
The Robert Jacks Drawing Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, Australia
MINE OWN EXECUTIONER, Mundaring Arts Centre, Australia
Swan Hill Print and Drawing Acquisitive Awards, Regional Art Gallery, Swan Hill, Australia
The Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Art Gallery, Australia

2005                 
The Dobell Prize for Drawing, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
DRAWN OUT (curator: Hannah Mathews) Perth institute of Contemporary Art, Australia
DRAWING IS A VERB, Adelaide Central Gallery2, International Drawing Conference, Australia
The Robert Jacks Drawing Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, Australia
City of Perth National Art Award, Perth institute of Contemporary Art, Australia
TRANSLATIONS AUSTRALIA, Hill-Smith Fine Art Gallery, Adelaide, Australia
MEMORY STATION, Arc One Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
MINIATURES, Gallery East, North Fremantle, Australia
THEIR SUMMER, Arc One Galleries, Melbourne, Australia

2004                 
Fifth Drawing Biennale, Drill Hall Gallery, Canberra, Australia
The Dobell Prize for Drawing, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Robert Jacks Drawing Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, Australia
Swan Hill Print and Drawing Acquisitive Awards, Regional Art Gallery, Swan Hill, Australia
International Mini Print Exhibition, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Australia
Jacaranda Drawing Award, Grafton Regional Gallery, Touring exhibition, Australia
Hutchins Art on Paper Prize, Long Gallery, Hobart, Australia
BankWest Contemporary Art Prize, Perth institute of Contemporary Art, Australia
MINIATURES, Gallery East, North Fremantle, Australia
SUMMER SHOW, Arc One Galleries, Melbourne, Australia
MULTI-COLOURED AUSTRALIA, Embassy of Republic of Poland, Canberra, Australia

2003                 
mix tape, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
POLISH ART CONFRONTATIONS ’03, Modern Art Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
The Regular Paper, ENMU-R, Roswell, New Mexico, USA
Sydney International Art on Paper Fair, Gallery East, Fox Studios, Sydney, Australia
The Dobell Prize for Drawing, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Hutchins Art on Paper Prize, Long Gallery, Hobart, Australia
Art on the Rocks, ASN Gallery, The Rocks, Sydney, Australia
POLART ‘03, Parliament House, Sydney, Australia
The Western Australian Contemporary Art Fair, Fremantle Passenger Terminal, Australia
WOMEN WORKING FOR WOMEN Soroptimist International, Moores Building, Fremantle, Australia
Bunbury Biennale, Regional Art Gallery, Australia
Mandorla Art Award, The Moores Building, Fremantle, Australia
MINIATURES, Gallery East, North Fremantle, Australia
SUMMER SHOW, Span Galleries, Melbourne, Australia

Prizes & Awards since 2000

2008                 
Mornington Peninsula Shire Aquisition Awarded at NWOP, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Australia
Grafton Regional Art Gallery, Aquisition Awarded at JADA, Grafton Regional Gallery, Australia

2005                 
The Hutchins Prize, Hobart, Australia
Whyalla Art Prize, Country Arts South Australia
ARTITUDE (Commendation), Perth Convention Centre, Australia

2004                 
Hutchins Art Prize (Henry James Art Hotel Award), Hobart, Australia

2003                 
Joondalup Art Prize, Australia

2001                  
The Artist’s Chronicle Front Cover Award, Australia
Minnawarra Art Festival (LIVING IN MY CITY), Armadale, Australia

2000                 
PrintsWA 2000, Fremantle, Australia
City of Melville Art Awards (Work on Paper), Australia
Minnawarra Arts Festival (Work on Paper), Armadale, Australia

Collections (selected)

Art Gallery of South Australia; National Gallery of Australia; Jewish Museum of Australia;
Artbank, Australia; Grafton Regional Art Gallery, NSW, Australia; Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Australia; Poznan Academy of Fine Arts, Poland; ENMU-R, Roswell, New Mexico, USA; Edith Cowan University, Western Australia; Murdoch University, Western Australia; The Hutchins School Collection, Tasmania, Australia;  Chang Mai University, Thailand; City of Armadale, Western Australia; City of Joondalup, Western Australia; City of Whyalla, South Australia; Shire of Katanning, Western Australia;  London Print Workshop, UK; The Australian Print Collection, Wagga Wagga, Australia;  Print Council of Canada; Mother-Pole Hospital, Poland; Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia; Sir Charles Gardener Hospital, Western Australia;  Corporate and private collection in Australia, Japan, Europe and USA (selected): BankWest, Australia; BHP Billiton; Bullseye, USA; Henry James Art Hotel, Tasmania, Australia; Legal Aid, Australia; Technology Park, Western Australia; Wellington Management, Japan; Krajowa Agencja Wydawnicza (KAW Publishing House), Poland

left: Gallery installation view, 2009; right: Dawn at Dusk, 2008, diptych, pigment marker, acrylic on linen, 100 x 100cm