Meditation 13

Jacek Limanowka is an Adelaide-based artist working primarily in oil on canvas. He has been painting for nearly 30 years following a life-changing accident. His practice is used as a vehicle to heal himself emotionally throughout his ongoing recovery. Jacek Limanowka was born in Krakow, Poland in 1959. As a young boy he travelled a lot with his mother and sister and visited many galleries around Europe. This early exposure to art had quite a formative impact on him. In February of 1988, whilst travelling from work Jacek was involved in a serious car accident. The car caught fire and Jacek was trapped in the burning vehicle. Because of his ‘frozen arm’ but also as a form of emotional release, Jacek took up painting for occupational therapy. From the very start Jacek’s paintings were very ‘unusual’; vivid, colorful oils and pastel. Realising that the world of art and design was where he wished to concentrate his life, in 1990 Jacek decided to undertake a range of studies, culminating in an, as yet incomplete, Bachelor of Design in Human Environments at the Underdale College of Advanced Education’s School of Design, later the University of South Australia Sadly, due to health issues, Jacek needed to cease his studies before he could finish them. However, these studies had stirred within him a desire to expand his knowledge of art, to experience different styles and to experiment with them. In May 2006 his mother passed away from cancer. This caused him to suffer another bout of depression which resulted in hospitalisation. He was diagnosed with a mental disorder. Things were very tough indeed. Jacek has participated in many group exhibitions. Because he was unable to be represented by a major gallery he organized shows in church and community halls to develop his profile and exhibit his unique style. Over the years Jacek’s art has become more abstract and he has focused on the meditative aspect of art. Half of the money Jacek makes from art goes to sponsor poor children in Uganda and the other half goes towards purchasing art materials.