Arabica coffee from Wroclaw
The history of coffee paintings began in Wroclaw. A Bełchatów-born painter Mariusz Gosławski visited his sister there eight years ago. He had no money for paints and could barely make ends meet, but he became interested in drops of coffee in which he had dipped his small brush. He did his first work experimentally and published its photograph in one of the Internet galleries. The response was immediate: full enchantment! "It’s interesting that I didn’t have any idea how to make professional coffee paintings," admits Gosławski today. He gained experience in the course of time. He learned that there is a difference between works painted outdoors and at home (because of humidity), in the sun and before rain, from instant coffee and personally ground coffee, from freshly brewed coffee and from the coffee that has settled (e.g., for half a year). "Fresh black coffee is shown in honey-gold colour on paper, and the longer you keep it, the browner it gets," explains the artist.
Wroclaw Nadodrze landscape, painted with coffee by Mariusz Gosławski
One of the six coffee artists in the world
In 2009, Mariusz Gosławski read an article about people painting in coffee. It turned out that the author had identified only six of such artists in the world. One of them is our painter, and the other artists come from Great Britain, the United States or the Philippines. They do not keep in touch with one another and keep the secrets of their methods with a bit of jealousy. "I have worked out my own technique by means of the trial and error method," stresses Gosławski. Apart from coffee, paper is important, too, but, surprisingly, it does not have to be high-quality paper. "My professor of painting from the Secondary School of Fine Arts in Zduńska Wola said that you can create something by means of anything on anything," tells the artist. He often cannot afford expensive papers, so he buys blocks of paper or even sketchbooks. "But sheets must not be too thin, because they become damp," he adds.
Wroclaw immortalised by Mariusz Gosławski
Wroclaw - favourite city
He often uses coffee for painting cities: Warsaw, Krakow, the environs of his hometown Bełchatów, or Little Dog’s Rock. But his most favourite places to immortalise are those in Wroclaw. During the vacation, Mariusz Gosławski can be met on the Wroclaw Market Square (near the foundation), where he works. Now his coffee visions, e.g., those of the capital of Lower Silesia, can be admired in the Municipal Public Library (Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna, Branch at ul. Serbska 5a). The exhibition will last till the 14. of March. On the last day, special workshops with the participation of the author, who will disclose some secrets of painting in coffee, will be held. After the exhibition, it will be possible to buy selected works by Mariusz Gosławski or order a selected object (also via the artist’s website).
The exhibition in the library at Serbska will be available to visitors during the following hours: on Monday from 11:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m., on Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m., on Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m., on Friday from 11:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m.
