The Tattooist of Auschwitz

 THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ

I read this book some time ago and decided to write about it because I think it's really recommendable. The tattooist of Auschwitz is a 2018 novel by Heather Morris. The story is about a man- Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who fell in love with a girl he was tattooing.  Lale landed in a concentration camp when he was 26, and became the person, who was tattooing numbers on new prisoners. One day he saw a beautiful girl and fell in love with her immediately. This book shows peoples' sufferings in camps, bestiality, ruthlessness of the nazis, but at the same time power and strength of love. The book is based on true events and life of real exile, who decided to share this truly moving story with the rest of the world. I think it’s worth reading for everyone, not only people who are interested it that period of history. It teaches a lot and is very hurt-tugging. I consider it as one of the best books I've ever read.

Midsommar

 MIDSOMMAR

Yesterday I watched a bizarre film- Midsommar on Canal+. It's American-Swedish horror, directed by Ari Aster in 2019. The story is about Dani, who is devastated after her sister's suicide and sets off with her boyfriend and his friends to central Sweden, where lives a commune that cultivates ancient traditions. On the spot it turns out that friends are being used as puppets in a ritual. This film shows how radical cult is working and how dangerous it can be. It's not a "lots of unnecessary blood and violence" type of horror, every harder scene is deliberated and that's what makes them even more frightening. While watching it, I was petrified. I like horror movies and feeling of being scared, but this film was sometimes too much for me. The vibe, view of compound fractures and smashed skulls was simply terrifying. In my opinion, this film is worth watching, but people who are getting scared easily should avoid it.

Oscar-Claude Monet

CLAUDE MONET
I decided to briefly describe his activity because I believe that his paintings were truly amazing and he was one of the greatest creators of Impressionism. I really appreciate his contribution to the art of the XX century. 

Claude Monet (14 November 1840 - 5 December  1926) was a French painter, one of main Impressionism precursors. The term "Impresionism" is derived from the title of his painting "Impression, Sunrise". He wasn't trying to paint a reflection of real life, but an "impression" of what the person, light, atmisphere, object or landscape looked like to him. He tried to capture the movement and life of what he saw and show it to us as if it were happening before our eyes

 In Poland we can only see his one of his paintings- "Beach in Pourville". It's on a display at the National Museum in Poznań

SPS - Sensory processing sensivity

 Recently, while i was scrolling through Instagram I came across a really interesting profile - dziewczynodzialaj. She was describing her life and struggles as someone with SPS. She was calling herself an "HSP". I was intrigued because I had never heard about such a thing. So I decided to do some research to understand this issue more.

Sensory processing sensitivity is a personality trait that refers to the tendency to process stimuli and information more strongly and deeply than others. A human with SPS is considered to be a highly sensitive person (HSP). Around 15 to 20 percent of the population are HSPs. Highly sensitive people are sometimes negatively described as being "too sensitive", but it's perfectly normal and brings both advantages and challenges. It is possible to get too easily offended by people who mean no harm, also to overreact to daily stressors or relationship issues, particularly if you become emotionally aggressive as a response. However, if you learn how to manage the unique features of being an HSP, you can make it your strength. Highly sensitive people can read others easily, have a strong intuition. They understand others emotions better.

How to know if you're an HSP? - You might avoid situations that leave you feeling overwhelmed. You might be highly touched by beauty or emotionality, may have a close relationship with other (care deeply about your friends, tend to form deep bonds). You may be grateful for the life you have (Highly sensitive people appreciate a good meal, beautiful song on a level that most people can't)

But how to deal with it? Add some positivity to your life and avoid stressful situations, that might trigger you. Learn to say "no" to overwhelming demands and don't feel bad about it. Also try to set up a safe space, for example home.

Zdzisław Beksiński

ZDZISŁAW BEKSIŃSKI'S ART

Zdzisław Beksiński (born February 24, 1929, Sanok, Poland/ died February 21, 2005) was a Polish painter, photographer and sculptor specializing in the field of dystopian surrealism.

Beksiński had no formal training as an artist. His paintings were mainly created using oil paint on hardboard panels which he personally prepared. He was interested in sculpting and photography.

His creations were made mainly in two periods. The first period of work is generally considered to contain expressionistic color, with a strong style of "utopian realism" and surreal architecture, like a doomsday scenario. The second period contained more abstract style, with the main features of formalism.

He soon became the leading figure in contemporary Polish art. In the late 1960s, Beksiński entered what he himself called his "fantastic period", which lasted up to the mid-1980s. This is his best-known period, during which he created very disturbing images, showing a gloomy, surrealistic environment with very detailed scenes of death, decay, landscapes filled with skeletons, deformed figures and deserts. These paintings were quite detailed, painted with his trademark precision.

"Pełzająca śmierć"

None of his works have a title, because author didn't want
to suggest anything and wanted everybody to have their own interpretation of his paintings. Although some of his most famous works have unofficial titles, given by people, for example "Pełzająca śmierć" (which is my favourite painting)

Zdzisław Beksiński is my favourite Polish painter, his style and way of presenting emotions is really impressing to me. His paintings make me wonder about the essence of life. 

Gustav Klimt

 GUSTAV KLIMT'S ART

Gustav Klimt (born July 14, 1862, Vienna, Austria/ died February 6, 1918, Vienna)was an Austrian symbolist painter, a founder of  shool of painting - Vienna Secession. 

Symbolism is a literary device that uses symbols, be they words, people, marks, locations, or abstract ideas to represent something beyond the literal meaning.

His early work had a classical style that was typical of late 19th-century academic painting, as can be seen in his murals for the Vienna Burgtheater (1888)

In 1897 Klimt’s mature style emerged, and he founded the Vienna Secession- a group of painters who revolted against academic art in favour of a highly decorative style.

His later murals are characterized by precisely linear drawing and the bold and arbitrary use of flat, decorative patterns of colour and gold leaf.

Klimt’s most successful works include "The Kiss: and a series of portraits of fashionable Viennese matrons, such as "Adele Bloch-Bauer I". In these works he treats the human figure without shadow and heightens the lush sensuality of skin by surrounding it with areas of flat, highly ornamental, brilliantly composed areas of decoration.

I think Klimt's paintings are unique and breathtaking, when I look at his paintings I feel emotions connected with them. I love the way he express his visions and puts it on canvas. 

"The Kiss"

"Adele Bloch-Bauer I"

1. Which past era would you like to live in and why?

Every period of time is interesting in its own way, has some pros and cons. But personally, the era, I would like to live the most is interwar period, especially in the Roaring Twenties (decade of the 1920s in Western society and culture) The atmosphere back then was just amazing, people were celebrating the end of war.

Everything seemed more simple and optimistic, emphasizing the era's social, artistic and cultural dynamism. This area is well-known by large-scale economic development and use of new, more advanced technologies like telephones, automobiles, radio, Further, I've always been interested in old fashions and music

Golden Twenties were also the era of Jazz, feminism. In many democratic countries, women won the right to vote. Unfortunately, this era also has some disadvantages- constantly increasing tension before the world war II and widespread racism. However, I think it would be a great adventure to experience the charms of the Roaring Twenties. :)

Julka