FACING THE WAVES | ARIADNE Drawing

Pawel Mendrek is a visual artist who works and lives in Vienna. Besides his work as a freelance artist he is an Academic Professor and Head of the Faculty of Intermedia and Scenography at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, guest lecturer at Chelsea College of Arts in London and FH Joanneum Graz. Enabling artistic experimentation Currently he is investigating and working on the subject of identity and reflects his own identity being torn between his professional practice in Austria and his Polish origins.Through development of the Parallax project between Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice Chelsea College of Arts London, Valand Academy Gothenburg and Plymouth University, he is able to discuss issues concerning the role of the art academy and the educational processes it involves itself in. Multiple techniques Mendrek’s work is broad and includes diverse techniques such as practice research and mixing technique experiments. Mendrek’s material of choice is paper so his range of works combines painting, photography, drawing, objects and collages. By overcoming those borders of those genres, he is redefining his artistic vision. Multiple study programs and academic mentors in Vienna and San Francisco influenced his techniques. An international resume Pawel Mendrek has exhibited nationally and internationally including group shows at Museum of Applied Arts Vienna, Kunstlerhaus Vienna, Museum of Art, Taiwan, Sienna Art Institute in Italy, Kronika Gallery Bytom, BWA Gallery in Cracow and Bielsko-Biala and as well in Mill&Short Gallery in San Francisco. He has been nominated for various art prices such as the Grand Prix International Biennale of Digital Graphic Art, Gdynia, the Grand Award of Academy of Art Collage in San Francisco and the Strabag Art Award. With Malgorzata Szandala and Ewa Zasada he is a member of Travel Agency Art Collective that realizes nomadic exhibitions and actions. Currently he is represented by the Loft Acht Gallery.