Experience neuroaesthetics through Kristof Kosmowski’s rich landscapes August 16 2024, 0 Comments
By Kimberly Nicoletti
.................................
Following is the first article in a bi-weekly blog series by esteemed writer Kimberly Nicoletti! Keep your eyes out for new entries to the series on our website every other week!
.................................
Our new show in Breckenridge north features the modern, expressionistic landscapes of Kristof Kosmowski. The Polish-born painter is known for his work in neuroaesthetics, a field that studies the way beauty impacts people when they view art.
Drawing inspiration from nature, he mainly focuses on his color palette. Research indicates that the human brain notices colors first, and that evokes an emotional response.
“That affects our entire process of viewing a painting, as color immediately informs our mood. From there, we start to recognize shapes and ultimately the subject matter — if there is one — of the artwork, and so on,” says Raitman Art Galleries co-owner Brian Raitman.
"Misty Vista"
Masters like Monet, Klimt and Cezanne have deeply influenced Kosmowski. In fact, you can see Monet’s profound influence on Kosmowski through the master’s “Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect” showcased at the Denver Art Museum. Both “Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect” and a plethora of Kosmowski’s paintings are excellent examples of neuroaesthetics.
Both Monet and Kosmowski’s paintings place a greater emphasis on the colors than they do the details of a landscape. In fact, Kosmowski believes that clusters of colors convey a different viewpoint. He likens his paintings to an out-of-focus photo and designs many of them to hang on the wall in four different orientations, providing an even richer perspective.
Kosmowski views abstract art as a mindset that involves subtracting details, which actually stimulates the imagination.
“When you look at my paintings, you have to think a little bit. Then you see something — and some people see different things,” he says. “It’s like the human brain. First you see colors, then shapes, then you participate in meaning. In my case, the colors are interesting first.”
His mountains, aspens and bodies of water — some more abstract than others — convey a poetic energy, as he blends layers of colors with Venetian plaster.
For example, the fiery red, orange and yellow hues of “Through the Valley” tend to invigorate or rev up viewers, while the cool tones of “Misty Vista” encourage more contemplative, calming emotions.
"Paradise"
His more realistic portrayals of classic Colorado scenery, such as “Paradise” or “Morning Mountain,” draw viewers into relationship with nature in a different way than their own experience would allow.
Works like “The Perfect Place,” which like all of Kosmowski’s paintings was created on a hand-built wood panel, result in a dreamlike view of mountains and trees, in which some might see ski-village-like structures hiding in the background, while others’ attention might just drift off into the peaceful mountains.
And that’s the beauty, and intrigue, of Kosmowski’s paintings: They provide their own, unique experience to each viewer.
"Morning Mountain"
“His mastery of color-theory and composition, his engaging use of textures and color shifting pigments — everything he does comes down to exploring how we are impacted by beauty,” Raitman says.
Of course, you don’t have to understand neuroaesthetics, or even fine art, to appreciate the impact of his work; simply stop into our north Breckenridge gallery to experience it for yourself. The show will be up until at least Sept. 15.
"The Perfect Place"