Bodily strings I

“Bodily strings I” from the “Limits” series by Magdalena Nowatkowska is a very minimalist approach to the theme

of boundaries, both physical

and metaphorical. There is simplicity

in both form and color, where a red line subtly and precisely traverses a neutral background, becoming the main carrier of meaning.

It outlines bodies, simplified

and geometricized by the artist

in the “Limits” series. The line, background, and strongly resonating red frame are the only components

of this composition. The line plays, cuts through the canvas, marks the path

of the journey… Both it and the frame can be perceived as symbols of barriers,

and at the same time as connectors

in the context of boundaries.

The use of one intense color

on a monochromatic background suggests a focus on a specific aspect,

a well-defined idea. It implies the artist's concentration on the conceptual dimension of exploring the subject

of this cycle, broadly understood,

the titular boundaries.

Traditionally, the color red is associated with strong emotions such as love, passion, anger, zeal, or danger. It may indicate the emotional charge

that the issues of boundaries carry, whether on a personal, social, deeper – physical, or even political level.