
“The following of authority is the denial of intelligence. [It] may help us temporarily to cover up our difficulties and problems; but to avoid a problem is only to intensify it, and in the process, self-knowledge and freedom are abandoned.” This quote stated by Jiddu Krishnamurti is the essence and epitome of what the world goes through today. Many may try to conceal the issue of problems that happen in society. The real way to resolve a problem is for it to be faced and solved. In the following two paintings, Pawel Kaczynski effectively illustrates that pertinent problems in society are covered up by authorities in today’s world.

The use of paint helps portray the main theme of covering up societies most pressing issues. This is one of the most prominent elements in both pictures. Painters in both untitled one and untitled two paintings, use paint as an element to portray the overall concept of the theme. In untitled painting one, white paint is used to cover up the black clouds, representing pollution. White represents purity and goodness, a positive connotation, whereas black carries a negative connotation. Through this it can be infered that the painters are trying to cover up the bad problems in society with “goodness”. They are trying to disguise the issues that in fact, are urgent and need attention to. In untitled painting two, the painters are using paint yet again, but in a different way. This time they are drawing a sun onto the polluted clouds. A sun represents happiness and righteous. This distinguishes again that authorities are trying to canvas a negative situation with a better one. 

An idea of false happiness helps connect the overall concept of the pictures. When looking at untitled painting two, a sun is drawn on top of black/polluted clouds. A sun has been a symbol of happiness and wellbeing since life evolved on earth. In addition, the sun is drawn in the shades of orange and yellow, which represents happiness. It is evident that this symbol must have been chosen very carefully because the color and main symbol (sun) both mean the same thing, thus happiness. Through the symbol of the sun, it is clearly labeled that they are trying to cover up something bad with a more positive symbol or situation.  

Pollution is the main shot of the picture, allowing us to infer it is the main point in both pictures. Each frame is pictured as a long shot. A long shot allows the viewer to focus in on the scene as a whole. Instead of looking at one detail in the picture, the viewer is now able to decipher the whole essence of the scene and get a feel of what the illustrator is trying to suggest.  When viewing the whole scene from afar, it enables the viewer to intensify the setting and get a holistic view. This allows us to know that the pollution is the main element in the pictures, since it takes up most of the scene/frame. Both pictures also have the element of object oriented attention. Object oriented attention is vital to the two paintings, entitling us to focus in on the object the characters are focusing on. This object so happens to be the polluted clouds. This element yet again tells the reader than the main point to this picture is the pollution. 

The colors indicate a sense of a wash over of neglecting problems. In untitled painting one, the illustrated decided to use white paint to cover up the pollution. White, as explained before, indicates purity and goodness. In addition, white can mean starting on a new slate or a “wash over”. This is clearly illustrated in the painting, as the painters want to “start a new slate and cover up the previous problems”. On the other hand, black represents death, power and fear. Power can be taken a little bit further in terms of the pollution. Not necessary just pollution, but problems in generally take up a majority of our world, and therefore, have a lot of power in society and how the world runs. It can therefore be inferred that the illustrator wants us to understand the idea that authorities like to cover up the problems that take up most of our world. 

We can infer that the painters are an object of authority in our country today through the use of uniforms and their height. Each painter in both paintings are in general painter uniforms. Although these are painter’s uniforms, you can take a holistic view at them from a standpoint of their status. Uniforms, in general, offer insight into the political and social status of an individual that is wearing one. For instance, many think of police, government officials, or business men, associated with uniforms. These people are the ones that are most commonly associated with power. In addition, the painters are also in a certain position that can determine their power. In both paintings, they are on either a crane or ladder, up high in the air. Being high in the air can be directly related to the height of one’s social status, or in general how much power they have. Therefore, because the painters are in uniforms and high in the air, one can consider that they are representing some type of authority in today’s society. 

Pawel Kaczynski satirical paintings depict a sense of political honesty, giving the viewer a chance to stop and think about the issues in the world. He does it in a holistic way, allowing us to view it from a different perspective; not just putting the global issue out there but rather making the viewer think and decipher the painting. Through his works, the painter takes his critical point of view on the world and illustrates the idea of authorities overseeing and damasking the problems in society. They may see a demanding issue, but simply swipe right over it and move on to more important ones. Maybe Kaczynski may just have an influence on the issues going on in the world around us today. 
