Clear at first sight. Illustrations by Pawel Kuczynski and its great meaning How to fit the features of the whole country or generation into one illustration? Pawel Kuczynski can clearly and subtly show what is familiar to millions

We interviewed Pawel Kuczynski, the author of over 1,000 illustrations, which became very popular on the Internet thanks to a capacious story, clear at a glance. The change in the ruling regimes, dependence on gadgets and other features of modern life is accurately and ironically reflected in his works.

— We all looked at your editions for a very long time before writing these questions. Each of them is very deep in meaning, requires great observation of the society and the processes in it. And although you are from another country, I can say that those situations and problems that you illustrate can be applied to any society, any nationality or country. Do you agree? Do you do your observations only in Poland or in other countries too?

— In modern world with the internet and other visual media, is very easy to be observer of the world. I'm interested with the global problems, as the new technology, ecology relations between people. I don't use the words in my works, so they are understanded on all of the world.

I like observe the people and the relations between them. I only try to say, what I see. I don't try to change anything, but I'm happy, when the people likes my works and when they find some important ideas... and after this, they begin to think about change ourselves.

— The main themes of your illustrations are war, politics, the importance of education, addiction to smartphones and social networks. Is this that topics that you consider to be the most important in a modern society or do you personally care about them?

— These themes are most interested. Some of these themes are new for our time. These themes say the most about people condition.

— Have you ever heard criticism to any of your works from people who disagree with the content? What kind of criticism that was?

— Yes, but I don't comment any interpretation of my works. I'm happy, that my works make any reactions.

— I did not find this information, but I am sure that your works has been marked with awards, honours, printed in magazines. Can you tell us about this?

— Yes, I received more than 140 prizes and distinctions on the cartoon and satirical drawing competitions on the world and I thought it was knowned information :-) But from several years I have no time for this any more.

— Do you consider that your works are very serious, or did they made for people smiling, when you see a simplified illustration of the problem in society?

— I like the kind of humor, as laugh through tears. Sometimes is a black humor. But satire it's not to make people comfortable. It's the kind of way to show something important in the understanding form.

— What is your occupation? What do you do for a living?

— I'm freelance and working mostly as the illustrator for magazines, websites, and books publisher.

— How many years have you been drawing, where did you learn this? When did you start creating acute social illustrations and what did you draw before that?

— I have been drawing always, as I remember. But my professional career start when I graduated Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan in 2001 and from 2004 I started dealing with satirical illustration.

More about Pawel Kuczynski’s art
Pawel Kuczynski: analysis, explanation, meaning

— Have you ever face with plagiarism in your work? If so, tell me how I reacted to it.

— I know, that sometimes people steal my ideas. But I never found, that someone are make a copies of my works. Is much more frustrating, when i see on the web my works (without credit of my name) and with stupid texts and words written in my illustration.

— In your opinion, how the role is important of the artist in modern society and what does it consist of?

— I'm happy that I don't know answer on this questions :-) Creations is my work. It's the thing that I do best as I can… And I'm happy that my work is important for the other people.

— Who from the artists or people of other creative professions had the greatest influence on you?

— I loved Caravaggio, this play of the lights and the shadows. But on the other hands, the big inspirations I found at my peers in the Academy. I saw how they working, what they thinking. We were inspirations to each others.

— Describe the situation in which you create your work? You do sketches in a cafe or sitting at home at a computer... What process?

— I'm working only at my home (ideas) and at my studio (realisation). On the beginning I need a subject, next I'm looking for the ideas (how to show this problem), next I'm preparing sketches and next project of illustration. At the end of this process, I start realization. For create my works I use watercolors and colored pencils, on the paper.

— Have you ever been in Ukraine? What do you think, what illustration would you make about this country?

— No, I never been, but I know a lots of good cartoonists from the Ukraine. Some years ago, I prepared for the publisher several works about Russian intervention in Ukraine.

— What can you wish to people who begin in art?

— A lot of work. Practice and practice.

More works of Pawel can be found on his pages in Instagram and Facebook.

Interview: Sergey Gutakovsky

Translation: Angelina Petrova

Editor: Sergey Fomkin

2018

Clear at first sight. Illustrations by Pawel Kuczynski and its great meaning How to fit the features of the whole country or generation into one illustration? Pawel Kuczynski can clearly and subtly show what is familiar to millions

More about Pawel Kuczynski’s art Pawel Kuczynski: analysis, explanation, meaning

More about Pawel Kuczynski’s art
Pawel Kuczynski: analysis, explanation, meaning