Emilia Franciszka Jechna

Statement

The greatest brush is my own body. Imprinting myself on the canvases allows me to connect with the painting and become part of it, which has a soothing effect, almost like a therapy. When I paint, my silhouette becomes a part of my creation allowing me to make it into anything I want to.

My creative process is profoundly influenced by Lou Andreas Salome’s interpretation of the story of Narcissus. She pointed out that our apathy towards him might be a result of a common misunderstanding of the myth rather than him objectively being a one-dimensional and a conventionally bad character.

All of the magic he’s experienced, the beauty he’s seen on Earth and the unreachable stars – all of this is incomplete without his existence. He finally sees himself not only as a passive observer, but as an essential participant, as life itself.

I want my paintings to be what the surface of the water was for Narcissus.

GlogauAIR Project

My goal is to paint a polyptych on which other artists and GlogauAIR residents would leave their mark. It would be a dinner-scene with many guests at the table – each of them imprinted by different person.

I have already painted feasts and suppers – always imprinting my own body as every attendee.

It’s time to finally share the canvas with other inspiring people. I hope that by sharing such a moment with different people, I will be able to create new beautiful connections, and as a result paint the work of unity.

CV Summary

Education

• MA in Painting, The Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design, 2021, Wrocław
• BA, Art Therapy, The Maria Grzegorzewka University, 2019, Warsaw
• Diploma in Scenography Techniques, Studium of Scenography Techniques, 2016, Warsaw

Chosen Exhibitions

• 06/2024 – Just In View, Tendermesh x Mojo Studios, Berlin
• 05/2024 – HAZE.UNTITLED 001, Haze Gallery, Berlin
• 11/2023 – Body Alchemy, Haze Gallery, Berlin
• 06/2023 – Beyond Contemporary, Get Preise, Berlin
• 05/2023 – What Narcissus Saw, Somos Arts, Berlin
• 09/2023 – Triennale of Sacred Art, Czest Gallery, Częstochowa

Chosen Set Design

• ‘Supper’ etude by Julia Dziworska, 2023
• ‘Bodily responses’ short by Emma Lindahl, 2022
• ‘Utrata Równowagi’ feature film, dir. Korek Bojanowski, 2024
• ‘Cicho coraz ciemniej’ dir. Joanna Różniak, 2024

Gallery