Two poles

The painting “Two Poles” by Magdalena Nowatkowska is a profoundly symbolic and emotionally charged work within the cycle “Limits.” What draws attention is not only the central composition but also the color palette—a deep burgundy red that immediately places the viewer in a state of focus, tension, and perhaps even intimate emotion.

At the center of the painting stands a distinct form—two identical, mirrored figures resembling simplified heads, joined together into one shared shape. Their connection creates a system of two poles—hence the title.

The composition is perfectly symmetrical, underscoring the idea of polarity. Two points, two identities, two forces—perhaps opposing, perhaps simply different—meet in the center, creating a new quality. There is no movement here—only stillness, suspension, a momentary balance between differences. The limit does not divide but unites—in a very simple, almost graphic gesture, the artist shows how two separate beings can coexist without erasing their contours.

“Two Poles” is a painting about relationship—not based on domination or merging into one, but on mutual recognition. It is also a reflection on the importance of the limit—not as a wall, but as a line that allows identity to be preserved while remaining close. It is an intimate and wise painting, deeply humanistic—in which Magdalena Nowatkowska, through a minimalist language, addresses some of the most difficult and essential human experiences: closeness, separateness, and the need for connection.

In the context of the entire cycle “Limits,” “Two Poles” functions as a kind of emotional conclusion—showing that true encounter can take place not despite limits, but precisely because of them.