Title: Rawa

Date: 2024

Description: This is an allegory of the Rawa River flowing through Katowice, which was destroyed by local industry. The painting was presented at the solo exhibition What Can I Do For You? at Oblatów 4, dedicated to the Rawa River. The painting is inspired by the Allegory of Water by Cornelis and Paul de Vos. This 17th-century image refers to the time when the Rawa was itself, that is, a river untouched by human activity: clean and full of fish. The main colour in this painting is blue; it refers to the water and its life-giving force. The heroine of the painting is equipped with attributes such as pearls and coral, which symbolise the regenerating power of water, indicating flow, delicacy, and stillness – qualities associated with the feminine aspect. The fish shown in the painting refer to multiplicity, abundance, but also fertility.

Technique, dimension: oil on canvas, 140 × 115 cm

First showing: 2024, Oblatów 4

Ownership: Monika Waraxa