On December 6, we would like to invite you to the exhibition “Everyday Work” by Norman Leto, co-organized with OKP Pressure Tower in Kalisz!
“Everyday Work” by Norman Leto
Norman Leto is the artistic pseudonym of an artist whose versatility never ceases to amaze. This is due to a wide range of subjects, painterly prowess and the combination of science and art. Noteworthy is the pioneering use of artificial intelligence in Polish art. The exhibition of such a unique and separate artist is a multithreaded story. Like a film series, it draws the viewer in and brings closer what occupies the artist over the past several years. It most intensely affects his creative imagination.
Norman Leto’s versatility is revealed in his skillful handling of painting and drawing techniques. The aforementioned hyper-realistic, almost photorealistic representations on panels are one of the styles used by the artist. In addition, the works created in the “dry brush” technique are also noteworthy. You can see on them the multiplicity of lines builds up the image, and the overall view emerges only after the viewer has reached an appropriate distance. This group of works, very characteristic of the artist’s style. They are aesthetically impressive, testify to a solid workshop are mainly landscapes, reminiscences of the artist’s wanderings in meadows, forests, fields, walks with dogs.
Selection of works for the exhibition
The selection of works for the exhibition at the Pressure Tower gallery in Kalisz ranges from those inspired by computer games to television, film. The artist is also inspired by current world news. Viewers will undoubtedly get acquainted with works related to life, existence, as well as the use of algorithms, the creation of animations, videos or films. In addition, paintings representing the artist’s commentary on geopolitical events will be presented. There will also be works depicting fragments of reality related to the war in Ukraine, and referring to the audiobooks passionately listened to while painting, a creative transformation of literary works.
When painting, the artist makes use of tools that have been present in his work for many years, the iPad or the ever-expanding capabilities of artificial intelligence. The starting point for recent paintings is often AI. The resulting works are then generated in Runway or Stabble diffusion programs, which repeat the mistakes of these still imperfect applications for generating images or video. The faces of the figures depicted in the paintings, often distorted, are the result of errors in the automatic creation of the image based on the description created by the artist. Norman takes a keen interest in these imperfections. He also consistently reproduces them on canvases and HDF panels. The artist often creates fiction, renders objects, objects, creates non-existent exhibition spaces and houses for painters. Also present are nuggets of biographies of famous figures of culture, politics using data, algorithms, scripts for three-dimensional graphics.
Norman is a filmmaker known for his filmmaking, mainly for his award-winning “Photon” or “Sailor.” Video works, short animations or the record “Everyday Work”, which presents the artist’s creative routine, become a perfect complement to the show. We invite you to enter the world invented and generated by the artist, to delve into the study of details, to follow the inspirations and obsessions, private, often intimate, to enjoy the opportunity to get close to this unique creator.
Artist bio:
NORMAN LETO is a versatile artist – he works in painting, creating digital simulations, video art and literature. The paintings he creates are often portraits of loved ones, situations that engage him emotionally, existential and intellectual challenges. He paints quickly, based on photographs, nature or video frames. Norman Leto’s painting evokes the works of William Bouguereau or Thomas Gainsborough. His work is often based on algorithms and artificial intelligence, while his designs often balance on the border between art and science – such as in the case of the life-size clumps he creates.
He made his debut with an exhibition at the Center for Contemporary Art in Warsaw, “Negative Aspects of Excessive Freedom at the Age of 26.”
He has presented his works in numerous exhibitions at the most prestigious institutions in Poland and abroad, including Jeune création européene, Paris 2007
Exhibition information:
Curated by Małgorzata Gołębiewska, Art Agenda Nova
Opening: December 6, 2024, 6:30 pm
The exhibition will last until 25.01.2025
Organizer: the Center for Visual Arts Culture of the Pressure Tower
66a Górnośląska St., 62-800 Kalisz
Cooperation: Art Agenda Nova, 2 Batorego Street, 31-135 Kraków
The press release for the exhibition is based on a curatorial text by Małgorzata Gołębiewska accompanying the exhibition.
Photo: Katarzyna Mierzwińska, Norman Leto / Art Agenda Nova archive
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