Touch

Małgorzata Czyńska Wojciech Tuleya By Małgorzata Czyńska Wojciech Tuleya

Magdalena Sawicka

Desire, pleasure and suffering are those moments when we become most intensely aware of our corporeality, our physical existence.

Desire, pleasure and suffering are those moments when we become most intensely aware of our corporeality, our physical existence. In Magdalena Sawicka’s drawings sensuality manifests itself in a trickle of sperm on lips, a turgid penis, wet stains on a girl’s panties; in lacerated hands and tear-stained faces. A used condom becomes a sacred object, worthy of being represented. It is easy and somewhat exciting to read these drawings literally. Knowing that they are the work of a young woman, you may be tempted to interpret them as a record of her experiences, the voice and  picture of a generation. But it is better to read deeper, to enter the metaphorical layer of those stories. The artist herself says that despite their apparent literalness, they are never straightforwardly about what they show.

Sawicka’s courage in representing intimacy, otherness, disability or sex is not aimed at cheap effect; it is not pornography, but a modern romanticism, curiosity about and reflection on the corporeal world as an enclosed space, as well as on relations between people: a diary and sociological study rolled into one. Sex; the internet, full of sexual obsessions; a world seemingly with no taboos; personal experiences and feelings: those things provide the foundation of the drawings. But the artist touches on more universal topics as well. She selects and juxtaposes in metaphorical ways. She presents an analysis of post-modern culture and its system of norms; of a world apparently liberated from a moral straitjacket, where eliminated taboos are replaced by a new ones, by mysticism and ritual, submission, a sense of both belonging and alienation, a blend of the sacred and the profane, biology and mystery.

With a delicate touch the artist draws rough scenes, no longer allusive, but literal: naturalist representations of sex, violence, tenderness, liberation, enslavement, shame, which may be treated symbolically. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a subtle image of hair sensually let down, or a boy’s head between a girl’s thighs, or a bold picture of swingers. The narrative is important; each image carries emotions and sensuality. The charge of pornography is baseless. We could repeat after Michel Houellebecq: ‘I am a realist. Most great French Romantic poets, on whose work I was brought up, were simultaneously romantics and pornographers. The tone of my books is like my cultural universe.’

The tone of Magdalena Sawicka’s drawings is personal; the artist herself declares  that there is no such thing as a communal sensitivity; each person has their own experiences, thoughts, feelings; and even when she draws inspiration from the global internet community, she interprets the existing interpretations.

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch I, 2016, ink on paper, 19.5 × 14.5 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[1]


Touch I, 2016, ink on paper, 19.5 × 14.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch II, 2012, ink and acrylic on paper, 14 × 17 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[2]


Touch II, 2012, ink and acrylic on paper, 14 × 17 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch III, 2017, ink on paper, 21 × 12.5 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[3]


Touch III, 2017, ink on paper, 21 × 12.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch IV, 2018, ink on paper, 16.5 × 15 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[4]


Touch IV, 2018, ink on paper, 16.5 × 15 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch V, 2017, ink on tracing paper, 29.5 × 21 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[5]


Touch V, 2017, ink on tracing paper, 29.5 × 21 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch VI, 2017, ink on tracing paper, 21 × 19 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[6]


Touch VI, 2017, ink on tracing paper, 21 × 19 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch VII, 2017, ink on paper, 19.5 × 15 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[7]


Touch VII, 2017, ink on paper, 19.5 × 15 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch VIII, 2016, ink on paper, 14 × 16.5 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[8]


Touch VIII, 2016, ink on paper, 14 × 16.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch IX, 2016, ink and tempera on paper, 14.5 × 18.5 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[9]


Touch IX, 2016, ink and tempera on paper, 14.5 × 18.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch X, 2016, ink and tempera on paper, 12.5 × 17.5 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[10]


Touch X, 2016, ink and tempera on paper, 12.5 × 17.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XI, 2013, ink on paper, 13 × 18 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[11]


Touch XI, 2013, ink on paper, 13 × 18 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XII, 2013, ink on paper, 16 × 21.5 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[12]


Touch XII, 2013, ink on paper, 16 × 21.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XIII, 2013, ink on paper, 20 × 17 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[13]


Touch XIII, 2013, ink on paper, 20 × 17 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XIV, 2016, ink and acrylic on paper, 15 × 19 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[14]


Touch XIV, 2016, ink and acrylic on paper, 15 × 19 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XV, 2012, ink and tempera on paper, 15 × 16.5 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[15]


Touch XV, 2012, ink and tempera on paper, 15 × 16.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XVI, 2012, ink and tempera on paper, 15 × 16.5 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[16]


Touch XVI, 2012, ink and tempera on paper, 15 × 16.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XVII, 2013, ink on paper, 17 × 17 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[17]


Touch XVII, 2013, ink on paper, 17 × 17 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XVIII, 2017, ink on paper, 14.5 × 19 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[18]


Touch XVIII, 2017, ink on paper, 14.5 × 19 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XIX, 2013, ink on paper, 17 × 17 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[19]


Touch XIX, 2013, ink on paper, 17 × 17 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XX, 2012, ink and tempera on paper, 14 × 14 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[20]


Touch XX, 2012, ink and tempera on paper, 14 × 14 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXI, 2012, ink and tempera on paper, 14 × 14.5 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[21]


Touch XXI, 2012, ink and tempera on paper, 14 × 14.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXII, 2017, ink and tempera on paper, 17 × 13.5 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[22]


Touch XXII, 2017, ink and tempera on paper, 17 × 13.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXIII, 2016, ink and tempera on paper, 12 × 18 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[23]


Touch XXIII, 2016, ink and tempera on paper, 12 × 18 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXIV, 2016, ink on paper, 18 × 18 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[24]


Touch XXIV, 2016, ink on paper, 18 × 18 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXV, 2015, ink on paper, 19 × 20.5 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[25]


Touch XXV, 2015, ink on paper, 19 × 20.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXVI, 2013, ink and tempera on paper, 24 × 20.5 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[26]


Touch XXVI, 2013, ink and tempera on paper, 24 × 20.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXVII, 2013, ink and tempera on paper, 24 × 20.5 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[27]


Touch XXVII, 2013, ink and tempera on paper, 24 × 20.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXVIII, 2017, ink on paper, 20.5 × 16.5 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[28]


Touch XXVIII, 2017, ink on paper, 20.5 × 16.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXIX, 2017, ink on paper, 20 × 14 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[29]


Touch XXIX, 2017, ink on paper, 20 × 14 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXX, 2017, ink on paper, 21 × 15 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[30]


Touch XXX, 2017, ink on paper, 21 × 15 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXXI, 2012, ink and tempera on paper, 12 × 16 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[31]


Touch XXXI, 2012, ink and tempera on paper, 12 × 16 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXXII, 2012, ink and tempera on paper, 12 × 16 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[32]


Touch XXXII, 2012, ink and tempera on paper, 12 × 16 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXXIII, 2018, ink on tracing paper, 15 × 11 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[33]


Touch XXXIII, 2018, ink on tracing paper, 15 × 11 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXXIV, 2017, ink on tracing paper, 21 × 15 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[34]


Touch XXXIV, 2017, ink on tracing paper, 21 × 15 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXXV, 2017, ink on tracing paper, 21 × 19 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[35]


Touch XXXV, 2017, ink on tracing paper, 21 × 19 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXXVI, 2017, ink on paper, 15 × 20 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[36]


Touch XXXVI, 2017, ink on paper, 15 × 20 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXXVII, 2016, ink and crayon on paper, 18.5 × 21 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[37]


Touch XXXVII, 2016, ink and crayon on paper, 18.5 × 21 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXXVIII, 2017, ink and tempera on paper, 14.5 × 19 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[38]


Touch XXXVIII, 2017, ink and tempera on paper, 14.5 × 19 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XXXIX, 2017, ink and acrylic on paper, 15 × 17.5 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[39]


Touch XXXIX, 2017, ink and acrylic on paper, 15 × 17.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XL, 2018, ink and crayon on paper, 12 × 15 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[40]


Touch XL, 2018, ink and crayon on paper, 12 × 15 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XLI, 2018, ink and crayon on paper, 12 × 14 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[41]


Touch XLI, 2018, ink and crayon on paper, 12 × 14 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XLII, 2017, ink and crayon on paper, 21 × 15 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[42]


Touch XLII, 2017, ink and crayon on paper, 21 × 15 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XLIII, 2016, ink and tempera on paper, 15 × 17.5 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[43]


Touch XLIII, 2016, ink and tempera on paper, 15 × 17.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XLIV, 2017, ink on tracing paper, 21 × 15 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[44]


Touch XLIV, 2017, ink on tracing paper, 21 × 15 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XLV, 2018, ink on tracing paper, 21 × 15 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[45]


Touch XLV, 2018, ink on tracing paper, 21 × 15 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XLVI, 2014, ink and tempera on paper, 14 × 14 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[46]


Touch XLVI, 2014, ink and tempera on paper, 14 × 14 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XLVII, 2014, ink and tempera on paper, 14 × 14 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[47]


Touch XLVII, 2014, ink and tempera on paper, 14 × 14 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XLVIII, 2016, ink and acrylic on paper, 14 × 16 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[48]


Touch XLVIII, 2016, ink and acrylic on paper, 14 × 16 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch XLIX, 2018, ink and crayon on paper, 14 × 12 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[49]


Touch XLIX, 2018, ink and crayon on paper, 14 × 12 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch L, 2015, ink on paper, 14.5 × 18.5 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[50]


Touch L, 2015, ink on paper, 14.5 × 18.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LI, 2014, ink on paper, 17 × 23 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[51]


Touch LI, 2014, ink on paper, 17 × 23 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LII, 2014, ink on paper, 17 × 23 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[52]


Touch LII, 2014, ink on paper, 17 × 23 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LIII, 2017, ink on paper, 21 × 15 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[53]


Touch LIII, 2017, ink on paper, 21 × 15 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LIV, 2017, ink on paper, 20.5 × 16 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[54]


Touch LIV, 2017, ink on paper, 20.5 × 16 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LV, 2013, ink and crayon on paper, 13 × 18 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[55]


Touch LV, 2013, ink and crayon on paper, 13 × 18 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LVI, 2017, ink and on paper, 17 × 20 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[56]


Touch LVI, 2017, ink and on paper, 17 × 20 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LVII, 2017, ink and acrylic on paper, 14 × 17 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[57]


Touch LVII, 2017, ink and acrylic on paper, 14 × 17 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LVIII, 2018, ink and acrylic on paper, 18 × 15 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[58]


Touch LVIII, 2018, ink and acrylic on paper, 18 × 15 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LIX, 2017, ink and acrylic on paper, 14.5 × 15.5 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[59]


Touch LIX, 2017, ink and acrylic on paper, 14.5 × 15.5 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LX, 2018, ink and crayon on paper, 11 × 14 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[60]


Touch LX, 2018, ink and crayon on paper, 11 × 14 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LXI, 2018, ink on paper, 18 × 14 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[61]


Touch LXI, 2018, ink on paper, 18 × 14 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LXII, 2018, ink on paper, 18 × 12 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[62]


Touch LXII, 2018, ink on paper, 18 × 12 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LXIII, 2018, ink on paper, 18 × 14 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[63]


Touch LXIII, 2018, ink on paper, 18 × 14 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LXIV, 2018, ink on paper, 18 × 12 cm [Price: PLN 700]

[64]


Touch LXIV, 2018, ink on paper, 18 × 12 cm
[Price: PLN 700]

Magdalena Sawicka
Touch LXV, 2018, ink and crayon on paper, 11 × 15 cm [Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

[65]


Touch LXV, 2018, ink and crayon on paper, 11 × 15 cm
[Price: PLN 700] [buy picture]

We have been interested in Magdalena Sawicka’s work for quite a few years so far. Intrigued by the young artist’s drawings, student of the Academy of Fine Arts back then, we used to go to meet her in Krakow. Skipping through her portfolio, we thought that she’s already as good as you can get it. We were delighted by her capable hand and choice of themes. Each subsequent pile of drawings was a surprise and a delight for us. And this has been going on and on… Even now, while presenting the first individual exhibition of Magdalena Sawicka’s works, we are already thinking about the next one.

You are invited on September 21st-23rd to the ART Gallery for Magdalena Sawicka’s exhibition accompanied with the premiere of Touch catalogue.



Selected works

see all