Stan Florek, Polish-born artist, learnt painting and drawing in his youth from the accomplished sculptor Maria Bor.

Combining his interest in art and curiosity about the evolution of societies, he studied fine arts, anthropology, archaeology and education. Deeply disturbed by wars and political upheavals as well as cruel social engineering in both democratic and dictatorial systems in 20th century he adopted a humanistic and existential world view. He has a strong conviction that the perpetuation of violence, cruelty and exploitation is built into economic and political systems and is inextricably linked to our desire for never ending material growth.

Stan’s paintings and drawings can be described as lyrical expressionism. They usually depict snippets of human experience in a world that is often harsh for ordinary people, for communities deprived of independence and for children denied peace and love. His stories (some published) explore the ethical and existential issues of our times, the destiny of people trapped in the inescapable malice of circumstances and merciless oppression by authority. His images and stories, however, are more poetic that didactic. He frequently uses metaphors in visual and literary forms.

Stan’s favourite media include oil, charcoal, pastel and etching. He enjoys the physical quality of charcoal and paints.

Living within one culture is like seeing the sky flat. For all practical reasons it is actually flat. Just a little above the clouds, surface painted with a tiny brush, dipped in silver paint: Milky Way, Heavenly Waters, Zodiac and others. You could live all your live not knowing or needing to know. But when you discover different cultures you begin seeing beyond the flatness, for the sky is a window to the universe.

Istnienie w jednej kulturze jest podobne przekonaniu ze niebo jest płaskie. Dla praktycznych celów ono istotnie jest płaskie. Trochę powyżej chmur rozciąga się równina, na której malutkim pędzelkiem i srebrną farbą namalowano Drogę Mleczną, Niebiańskie Wody, Znaki Zodiaku i inne konstelacje. Człowiek mógłby strawić cale życie nie wiedząc i nie potrzebując wiedzieć. Lecz kiedy raz odkryje inne kultury zaczyna widzieć więcej niż plaski nieboskłon, bo niebo jest oknem wszechświata.