Piotr Janowski made international headlines after creating a large-scale installation at his rented home in Tarpon Springs. Using aluminum foil, Janowski applied the medium to every inch of his bungalow and driveway, as well as the land’s surrounding palm trees. He also added sculptural elements, reminiscent of the human ear. Inspired by the light and vegetation of Florida, Janowski aimed to highlight the beauty of his surroundings: “The meticulously applied and highly reflective medium invites the viewer to explore every groove and hair of the bark. It does this mainly by exceptionally strong reflectance at sharp angles, and an unpredictable, scrambled appearance of colors and light temperatures coming in from the surrounding environment. In the uncovered palm tree, expected colors and shadows conceal the natural complexity and beauty to the viewer. Paradoxically, it is revealing through concealing.”

Although this project started as a means to explore the land and light of Florida, Janowski’s practice is evolving to incorporate issues of sustainable energy. His goal is to create sculpture that generates electricity, resulting in highly functional contemporary artworks.

Public art is a controversial topic, and its context is paramount to its understanding. This installation will allow for an important discussion of artistic intent and public reception. The artist will be present at a public opening  that will take place at 5:30 pm on the front steps of the Museum on Thursday, December 3rd.

Artist Piotr Janowski (b. Poland 1962) studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz, Poland and at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has had solo exhibitions at Stawski Gallery, Palace of the Arts, Cracow, Poland; The Polish Museum of America, Chicago; Center for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, Poland; and Laudon Studio, Vienna, Austria. He currently lives in Vienna, Austria.