yacek-yerka 4 Jacek Yerka (1952-)

The composition presents a surreal landscape dominated by a large, anthropomorphic form that appears to be constructed from disparate mechanical elements and organic textures. The central figure is bulbous and vaguely reptilian in shape, with a mottled surface resembling aged leather or bark. Numerous clocks are affixed to its body – some prominently displayed on the front, others embedded within the structure, suggesting an obsession with time or perhaps a forced integration of temporal measurement into being. A large clock face, positioned centrally, displays a specific time, though its significance remains ambiguous.
The figure rests upon a collection of smaller objects: barrels, canisters, and more clocks, scattered across a grassy plain that stretches towards a horizon punctuated by slender, dark trees. The sky above is overcast, lending the scene a muted, melancholic atmosphere. A few birds are visible in flight, adding a sense of scale and movement to an otherwise static tableau.
The artist’s use of color contributes significantly to the works unsettling quality. Earth tones – browns, yellows, and greens – dominate, but they are juxtaposed with the metallic sheen of the clocks and the cool blue of a partially visible object on the left side of the frame. This contrast creates visual tension and reinforces the sense of something unnatural or fabricated.
Subtextually, the painting seems to explore themes of industrialization, mechanization, and the passage of time. The figure’s hybrid nature – part organic, part machine – could be interpreted as a commentary on humanitys relationship with technology and its impact on the natural world. The proliferation of clocks suggests an anxiety surrounding mortality or a critique of societal pressures to adhere to rigid schedules. The desolate landscape further amplifies this sense of alienation and loss. The overall impression is one of quiet, unsettling contemplation, inviting viewers to ponder the nature of existence within a rapidly changing world.