Iwona Lys-Dobradin

Since my childhood, I have had an interest in the imaginary capabilities of art. My fascination was later shaped by my formal and rigorous study of sculpture at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts where I specialized in bronze and casting. Today, I create sculptural forms in bronze, aluminum and ceramics. The work I create brings together the harmony of nature and combines it with my perspective of the world. In my creative process, I use intuition and imagination to create my aesthetic in sculpture. The goal is to depict positive attitudes and optimism.

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Artist’s Statement

My adventure with sculpture began in my youth when I joined an art club in my hometown. Creating small forms, I discovered that it not only brought me great pleasure but also that the final effect of my actions could be an interesting element of space.

Equilibrium is a broad concept in my work that refers to the art of maintaining balance and dexterity in various areas of life. In the context of sculpture, it is the skill of balancing between different styles, techniques, or themes, trying to create works that harmoniously combine various inspirations and influences while maintaining consistency and originality.

Being together, in a group, family, or society, means that through mutual cooperation, we can achieve more if we get rid of egoism. On the other hand, there is a fear that losing autonomy limits the possibilities for individual development.

My life can be an example of trying to maintain such a balance by starting a family, raising three children, enabling my husband's career, and simultaneously developing my own artistic creativity. For me, the equilibrium of being together is the art of reconciling two different worlds - one's own and the partner's - in such a way as to create something beautiful and valuable together, without giving up one's own aspirations and dreams.

Many of my works revolve around delicate eroticism. The human body has always been a subject of fascination due to its form, proportions, and beauty. Erotic sculpture is an attempt to capture these aesthetic values and the idealization of the body, not necessarily challenging existing social norms or taboos.

My inspiration is based on the phenomenon of life and the central role that humans play in it. In this limited existence, we try to grasp every moment of life, succumb to passions, and experience moments of ecstasy. Isn't this the purest form of sensuality? This is what I want to convey to my audience. I want the human body not to be treated objectively as an object, but subjectively in a reflective and optimistic way.

Sculpting animals is not only an artistic challenge but also an expression of love, respect, and admiration for these creatures. I try to show their beauty, dignity, and the deep bond between humans and animals, which have always been an integral part of human existence. Animal sculpture not only captures their physical beauty but also tries to show their emotional and symbolic values.

At the same time, I want to draw attention to endangered species and the threats they face. By depicting these animals, I want to raise awareness about the importance of their protection and conservation.

The role of art is multifaceted and not limited to a single goal. Art can and should give pleasure, evoke emotions, inspire reflection, and stimulate our imaginations.

It also plays a role in education, raising awareness, and influencing social changes. Art is a means of expressing thoughts, feelings, and ideas that often cannot be conveyed in any other way.

If my sculptures give someone pleasure, evoke emotions, or inspire to reflect on some aspects of life, it is the greatest reward for me.

Influences

Henry Moore, Amedeo Modigliani, August Rodin, Lynn Chadwick can be mentioned in one breath as greats of the sculptural world who shape my view of art. Each of these artists brought something unique to my understanding and interpretation of sculpture, allowing me to create my works on the foundations left by their predecessors.

As for Alberto Giacometti, his light, almost massless sculptures are great achievements of 20th-century art and fetch astronomical prices at auctions. My works often have elongated proportions to give and emphasize the fluidity of movement, to be a kind of extension of it, and in a metaphorical sense, an attempt to extract the context from the rigid form of the material, giving them a more dynamic form.

It is not my intention to depict suffering or be confined by existentialism. I want to convey faith in the beauty of each day, even if the subjects of my work have to "stand on their heads”.

Education

Five year long master degree study at the Fine Art Academy in Krakow, Poland in the atelier of Professor Marian Konieczny.

Awards

Ministry of Culture stipend in Poland
Dyplom of distinction for Master of Fine Arts diploma work

Exhibitions

2024 The Subtleties of the unusual, Jastrzebie Zdroj, March-April

2024 The Subtleties of the unusual, Krakow, Dec-Feb

2024 9th Christmas Salon of the ZPAP, Krakow, group,

2021 One World: International Women Artists of Florida. Created School of Art, Winter Park, FL