“What matters is what appears in your soul, not what your eyes see and what you can name.” – Zdzisław Beksiński
Zdzisław Beksiński is one of Poland’s most celebrated and distinctive artists, recognized all around the world. He is well-known for his dystopian, surrealistic paintings. His work is full of dark imagery, skeletons, decaying creatures, and eerie-looking buildings. There must be a meaning behind these powerful images, right? Well, not exactly. The artist constantly downplayed the significance of symbolism in his creations, and he made it clear that he hated labelling art as anything. In fact, he once declared that “meaning is meaningless.” And honestly, I agree, though not entirely.
“The best paintings are the ones that can surprise you.” – Zdzisław Beksiński
Art isn’t a mystery that needs to be solved. Yet, so often, people feel the urge to search for something deeper in every experience, in every fleeting moment. So why would paintings be any different? Maybe one of the reasons we go on a symbol hunt in books, poems, and artwork is our love for patterns, along with the fact that we’ve been taught to analyse everything around us. Society is obsessed with labels and symbols: a heart means love, and skeletons scream death. But when faced with the unknown, we struggle to interpret what’s beyond these familiar patterns; there’s something about not having all the answers that makes us so uncomfortable. The truth is, people are terrified of being perceived as “weird” for standing out and interpreting things in their own unique way. But maybe that’s exactly what we need to break free from the boundaries and truly enjoy art.
“Speaking immodestly, paintings are to be admired or contemplated. Just like a beautiful landscape, or anything we look at without asking what it means.” – Zdzisław Beksiński
Beksiński stated that his art is about mood, atmosphere, and musicality. I truly admire that. He also refused to give his works titles, allowing the viewers to experience what they see, but partly because he didn’t care for interpretation. One of my favourite pieces by him is a painting showing two creatures holding each other tightly. When I look at this particular painting, I feel calm, and some sort of comfort washes over me. I’m not even sure I can explain why. Maybe it’s the way the two figures cling so closely, or perhaps it’s the warm colours of the background, reminding me of the lovely sunsets peeking through the trees while I sat on the balcony with my grandma, listening to the radio.
“My creation is easy going. If it fits, just leave it there. It doesn’t mean anything.” – Zdzisław Beksiński
What strikes me the most about Beksiński’s paintings is the way he uses colour. It’s rare to find an artist who can evoke such mysterious images through a palette of hues. Every single shade feels like it carries weight, turning the canvas into something that’s not just seen but felt. I can’t recommend looking into Zdzisław Beksiński’s legacy enough. He stands out as one of the most authentic and raw artists of all time, with a unique ability to express what he truly believed in. Beksiński wasn’t just a painter; he was also a photographer and a sculptor, so there’s an entire world of his magic waiting to draw you in.
“I am obsessed with the process of creation” – Zdzisław Beksiński
Sometimes, not searching for meaning can turn out to be the most meaningful experience of all. The true beauty of art lies in appreciating its impact without needing a hidden message behind it, in letting it simply exist. Let yourself feel.
