Nutty-professor artist worth checking out!

Andrzej Maria Borkowski. Can’t pronounce it? Neither can we. Just thought we’d write a word or two about the talented nutty-professoresque artist Andrzej Maria Borkowski.

Focusing mainly onsilk printing, Andrzej’s art’s recurring themes are evocative phrases from porno magazines, an acephalous (means without head, look it up if you don’t believe me!) lady woman with legs twisting into the shape of an octopus’ tendrils, and an odd-looking octopus cartoon character.

Andrzej’s enthusiasm is infectious. Anyone faced with his explanation of his painting ‘Yes but no’, using the acephalous woman-creature figure, would be forced to relinquish some of that staunch English conservatism we’ve got going on, and yield to the zany Polish larger-than-life attitude Andrzej seems to possess. ‘It’s that moment when you go ‘aaaaargh!!” he explains to me, thrusting pelvis forward and retracting it almost as quickly

, ‘Yes, but no!!’, he finishes, crossing his legs over each other in an awkward inhibitive fashion. For me, this captures the moment perfectly, the awkwardness involved in most of our attitudes towards not just sexual relations, but any encounter with the unknown. Where will it lead us? Why should we forfeit the legibility of our own lives

to the frighteningly unreadability of the unknown?

Andrzej answers this perfectly for me. Suspend your E

nglish conservatism and spend an afternoon talking to this artist/actor whose only acting roles have been those of ‘a crazy professor!’ he exclaims, half-incredulous but also half-knowing. For Andrzej is a crazy professor. The students of Brighton University know him well for his seminars on performance. He admits to me that teaching this kind of thing feels fraudulent as ‘How do

you teach it!?’ he shrieks to me. ‘It’s impossible, it’s art! You do what you want!’ He also confesses to loving it, as the students keep him young in spirit. To be honest though, I think it’s more him keeping them young in spirit. Never have I met such an enthusiastic pioneer of all things young, new and energized. I’ve included a few photos here, which I hope will get Andrzej’s personality across a little easier.

If you fancy checking his art out contact him on facebook under Andrzej Maria Borkowski or here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42697978@N04/

Enjoy!