Bored Panda reached out to Paweł Kuczyński to ask a couple of questions related to his artwork. First, we wanted to know how the artist decided on the themes and subjects for his illustrations. Kuczynski told us: “On one hand, my illustrations are the result of observing the modern world with its new technologies and the interpersonal relationships associated with them. On the other hand, it is connected to my professional work as a press illustrator and the articles I receive on various topics.”
The second question we wanted to know was if there are any artists or illustrators who have influenced Paweł’s work. Kuczyński said: “I have an academic education (I graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan) and it had an influence on my artistic path mainly from a formal perspective. There are many old masters who have influenced my artistic skills. However, the content, sense of humor, and satire present in my works are the result of my own "journey," which consists of experience and the people I have encountered in my life.”
Next, we were wondering how Kuczyński sees the role of surrealism in his work, and we found out that: “I often encounter this question, but it seems to me that my artwork has little to do with Surrealism. My works may give such an impression due to the use of certain unreal juxtapositions and may resemble the atmosphere of Magritte's and other artists' paintings. However, in my case, this technique is aimed at emphasizing a specific issue in the real world rather than attempting to escape to other dimensions. One could say that the surrealism in my works may arise from the surreal reality that surrounds us.”
When asked about some particularly challenging projects Paweł has worked on in his career, he answered: “For the past two years, I have been working for an American website/blog focusing on new technologies, software, and various computer-related topics. I have created over 220 pieces, and it has been a great challenge for me because the subjects were not easy. You can see the results here.
Considering Paweł Kuczyński has worked with a range of media outlets and clients, we were interested in how the artist adapts his art to suit different audiences. The illustrator told us: “It's important to be flexible and listen patiently. I have no problems illustrating various topics, often very different from each other. I adapt to the client's needs. However, I always strive to add my own touch to the work.”
We also asked how Paweł stays inspired and motivated as an artist, and he answered: “We live in an information overload. Media surrounds us from all sides, and even false information can be inspiring. I have no problem with motivation; it's just a lack of time that becomes the challenge.”
Finally, we wanted to know how Kuczyński's work has evolved over the course of his career, and where he sees himself going in the future. The artist said: “I started my journey with illustration by participating in satirical drawing competitions. During that time, I won over 150 awards worldwide. Currently, I work more on commissioned projects for various publishers. While it provides stability in my professional life, sometimes I miss the freedom I had in expressing my own ideas, as I did during the competitions. I think in the future, I will try to return to pursuing my own observations. Perhaps I will consider creating a personal album or publication.”
