As a representative of “Ładnie” (handsome), a group of Warsaw painters from the late 90’s who placed the gaze on ordinariness at the centre of their observations, Wilhelm Sasnal paints realistically. The objects from which he starts are often illustrations from books, motifs from TV programmes or his own photographs taken during excursions in the surroundings of his hometown Tarnow. But he only takes a few elements from this material and re-orders them on the canvas. With Monument he sketches an architectural monument which, from its colouring, reminds one of a black-and-white photograph. At the same time, it gives the impression of being documentary. One can only guess at the border between reality and fiction. By “cutting out” the architecture on an almost pure white background, he strengthens the emphasis on its historical significance. Focussing on parts of the building initiates questions for the viewer as to purpose and origin.

Heike Maier, 2005 (translation: Tim Sharp)