Szwedzki is the pseudonym of a street artist active mainly in the Silesian Voivodeship, creator of murals and graffiti. It is also the name of the character in his typically humorous murals, depicting the same comic-style figure in blue pants and a yellow shirt.[1][2]
Szwedzki is an immigrant from Sweden living in Sosnowiec.[3][4][5] He painted his first murals in 2000.[2][6] In the early years, his work was sometimes described as vandalism, but in later years, with the growing popularity of street art in Poland, it became accepted as a form of regional art.[7] The artist's goal is to entertain viewers.[2] Szwedzki's later murals often include a humorous comment in the form of a comic-style speech bubble.[2][7][8][9]
In 2013, the character was described in the Katowice supplement of Gazeta Wyborcza as known to everyone.[2] In 2014, a rally called Following Szwedzki's Trail was held in Dąbrowa Górnicza.[10][11] In 2015, the artist was described by Dziennik Zachodni as the Silesian Banksy, and his murals were recognized as the most distinctive regional murals in Poland.[6] In 2019, Dziennik Zachodni called him one of the most recognizable street artists in Silesia.[12]
In 2022, he created, among others, a satirical mural about Russian President Vladimir Putin.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ "Mi to lotto, czyli rzeczywistość według Szwedzkiego" [I Don't Care, or Reality According to Szwedzki]. Białystok Nasze Miasto (in Polish). 7 December 2014. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ a b c d e Bednarek, Michalina (2 April 2013). "Szwedzki patrzy na ciebie. Na pewno go znasz" [Szwedzki is looking at you. You definitely know him]. katowice.wyborcza.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ Kalsztyn, Piotr (26 April 2012). "Szwedzki komentuje co widzi. A widzi nas wszystkich!" [Szwedzki comments on what he sees. And he sees all of us!]. Nasze Miasto (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ Bedla, Jakub (21 March 2022). "Szwedzika czas nie tyka" [Time doesn't tick for Szwedzik]. Gazeta Kongresy (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ Rauk, Marta. "ROZMOWA Z FILIPEM MUCHĄ Z 0700 TEAM" [Interview with Filip Mucha from 0700 Team]. PUSZKA (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ a b Szałankiewicz, Paweł (30 January 2015). "Szwedzki. Śląski Banksy, który nie stroni od komentowania polityki" [Szwedzki. The Silesian Banksy who doesn't shy away from commenting on politics]. Dziennik Zachodni (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ a b Petri, Jakub (2015). "The artistic turn in graffiti practice: Szwedzki vs Mona Tusz". Art Inquiry. Recherches sur les arts. XVII (XXVI): 371–387. ISSN 1641-9278.
- ^ Kalsztyn, Piotr (23 January 2013). "Szwedzki: "za plecami słyszę jedynie propsy, brawa i piski"" [Szwedzki: "Behind my back, all I hear are props, applause, and squeals"]. Nasze Miasto (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ ""Sorry, taki klimat". Bieńkowska wzięta na graffiti" ["Sorry, that's the vibe." Bieńkowska featured in graffiti]. TVN24 (in Polish). 23 January 2014. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "Tropem Szwedzkiego, czyli Aglomeracyjny Rajd na Orientację" [Following Szwedzki's Trail, or the Urban Orienteering Rally]. Nasze Miasto (in Polish). 25 July 2014. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ Urgacz-Kuźniak, Adriana (21 July 2014). "Aglomeracyjny rajd tropem graffity Szwedzkiego" [Urban Rally Following Szwedzki's Graffiti]. Śląskie Trendy (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "Żółty ludzik w Sosnowcu pyta kierowców o... paszport. Graffiti Szwedzkiego w kampanii promocyjnej miasta". A yellow little figure in Sosnowiec asks drivers for... a passport. Szwedzki's graffiti in the city's promotional campaign (in Polish). 25 July 2019. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ Ciślak, Filip; Pancherz, Grzegorz (2 March 2022). "Put In Put Out. Nowy mural w mieście" [Put In, Put Out. New mural in the city]. www.radio.katowice.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ Jackson, James (17 May 2022). ""Graffiti is my weapon against aggression": Polish street art in support of Ukraine". Notes From Poland. Retrieved 2024-09-13.