1 Maja 162
Raspazjan, Karol Kobryń
2022
The mural commemorating Erwin Sówka is located on the side wall of a block at 1 Maja 162 a–d in the Zawodzie district of Katowice. The large-format work by Raspazjan and Karol Kobryn was unveiled on June 25, 2022, just over a year after the artist's death. It was created at the initiative of the Municipal Cultural Center "Bogucice-Zawodzie" as part of the budget for local initiatives.
Erwin Sówka, one of the legends of Katowice, was almost entirely connected to the "Wieczorek" mine throughout his professional life. He became interested in art at the age of 16. He was one of the leading representatives of the Janowska Group, which brought together non-professional creators associated with the mining community of Nikiszowiec and Janów.
The central element of the mural is a multicoloured portrait of the artist dressed in a suit. He is surrounded by motifs characteristic of his work: Silesian industrial landscapes, cosmic, mystical elements inspired by ancient Eastern cultures, as well as female nudes. The composition not only depicts the painter but also evokes the extraordinary, symbolic world of his paintings.
The location of the work was chosen deliberately. Erwin Sówka lived nearby for many years, on Łączna Street, which is why his painted figure symbolically looks towards his former place of residence. The mural is clearly visible from the Zawodzie Transfer Center and from Murckowska Street.
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