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Todo es de color
Axel Void and Pawel Ryzko
Cádiz, Andalucia
2023 IIn August 2023, Axel Void gave me a vinyl record featuring the flamenco duo Lole y Manuel. The cover art was captivating and filled with symbolism, sparking my interest in creating a project inspired by their music. It wasn't until a week later, on a sunny September day in my home in Poland, that I finally listened to the recording.
The music struck me with its ability to blend intense emotion with a minimalist style. Lole y Manuel's songs, composed only of guitar and vocals, offered a rich spectrum of expression. Among the songs, "Todo es de color" stood out to me. This song holds a special significance for me for two reasons. The first is its remarkable mood, solemn yet unpretentious. The second is that the word "color" resonated with me as a visual artist. The song lingered in my mind for days. I translated the lyrics into Polish and found a poignant pacifist message within them. Unlike similar songs, this one felt sincere and evoked a blend of powerlessness and sorrow that fuels resistance.

While I typically favor carefully planned compositions in my work, Lole y Manuel's music inspired me to explore a more spontaneous approach. I envisioned incorporating uncontrolled brush strokes onto geometric backgrounds in my posters, infusing them with raw energy.

Rhythm

The repetition of the word “color” six times in “Todo es de color” sparked my search for symbols that could resonate with everyone. I decided to use printing markers to construct rhythms and compositions for the poster. Printing markers, typically relegated to the margins, often caught my eye with their allure, sometimes even surpassing the printed work. Yet this is not a purely aesthetic choice – there is an additional meaning behind it. The printing markers serve as a fitting metaphor for the gypsy lifestyle existing on the fringes of societies. Finally, by replacing the traditional CMYK color scheme with a personalized palette, the composition began to evoke the style of Spanish ceramic tiles.

Expression

This rhythmic composition will be complemented with swiftly applied hand strokes of black paint, which will harmonize with the geometric structure. These strokes will evoke Rorschach-like images, prompting varied associations. Inspired by my photographic explorations in Cadiz, they'll reflect elements of the local landscape that echo the song's lyrics.

Given flamenco's communal essence, I felt that the poster would be an ideal medium for this shared expression. Opting for a fully analog approach, I selected silk screen printing for its artisanal quality and unmatched color saturation, which is unattainable with other printing methods.

Pawel Ryzko