Stanislaw Trzebinski underlines global climate crisis in evocative sculptural work

What began as an insatiable, almost child-like innocence and curiosity for nature, culminated, with time, into a practice that strives to assuage the withering relationship between humankind and the natural world. With appreciation and passion for the raw wonders of the world adulterated by modern technology, urban landscapes, neglect and tragedy, a reminder of our forgotten intimacy with nature comes along as a gust of fresh air. Cape Town based sculptor Stanislaw Trzebinski heralds this very alienation through his oeuvre that draws from his childhood memories, his fascination with nature and his experiences of loss, laying bare the intricacies of the connection we have with our environment. For his upcoming solo show, set to be unveiled on 25 August, 2022, at the South Africa based Southern Guild Gallery, the artist will present a multi-material ensemble “that aims to shed light on the sense of urgency we have to save the planet and turn the tides on global warming,” says Stanisalw Trzebinski.

“The works for this show have been both challenging and extremely rewarding to create – the surface textures and the finishes of these works are of a standard that has proven to be difficult to translate into bronze,” shares the Kenyan-born sculptor. Dedicating time and efforts to the new body of work across a period of 12 months, Trzebinski puts to use the historical lost wax method of casting alongside other contemporary, technologically driven methods and techniques to achieve an expressive troupe that encapsulates an unending attachment to the muse of the show, nature, while enrobed in the patterns and textures that are deeply rooted in its being.

“I've developed new methods of executing ideas I have and the results have been exciting for me to say the least - being able to create things that I had previously thought to be impossible has been very rewarding,” shares Trzebinski. Treading the thin line between functionality and art, the works are crafted out of bronze, wood, etched copper panels, mirror and hand-blown glass elements from Kitengela glass in the sculptor’s native country Kenya. Functional and sculptural in tandem, the pieces come together to form an impactful assemblage, evoking thought and introspection with respect to the fragile health of the planet and the criticality of making strides to reverse the damage.

Artist Stanislaw Trzebinski evolves designs and sculptures that are a window to our roots, a memento of the unremembered and a declaration of a yearning for connection. Breathing life into forms using elements of natural forms and textures, influenced by the mineral, organic and coastal landscapes which he was exposed to while growing up in Kenya, his work is a souvenir of the past, reiterating the closeness that humans once had with the web of life. Trzebinski, through his latest offerings to be presented in Southern Guild, invites viewers to ponder upon what is lost each time they choose to dissociate from the natural world, and what can be gained if they decide not to.

Stanislaw Trzebinski’s solo show will be on view from 25 August 2022 in Southern Guild, Cape Town, South Africa.