Close-up of black grooved surface with horizontal lines.
A man and woman sitting on a bench with their backs to the camera, in a dimly lit room with wooden floors and dark paneling.
Musical notation with a focus on B flat 9 (Bb9) chord diagram with chord boxes for guitar, including finger placement dots and fret numbers.
Painting of a woman sitting on a chair, viewed from behind. She has dark hair in a bun and wears a loose white shirt. Her left arm rests on the chair's back. Painting by Michal Bonikowski
Flesch Reading Ease score bar chart with values ranging from 50 to 100, indicating text difficulty levels from fairly difficult to very easy.

Breath 1

This painting is part of the "BEHIND" series, where emotions are conveyed through the subtle language of the body. The figures are shown from behind to draw attention to the lines of the silhouette, the tension in the muscles, and the small gestures—often capable of expressing more than words. The back, typically seen as a symbol of vulnerability and weakness, here becomes a sign of courage and a metaphor for trust in the world and its intentions.

On the canvas, we see a woman seated on a simple wooden chair. Her head is turned toward an unseen space, her arms relaxed and gently lowered, suggesting a moment of calm and introspection. A soft palette of whites, blues, and browns creates a peaceful, almost meditative atmosphere. Light outlines the shape of her body, emphasizing the warm tone of her skin against the cool background—intensifying the sense of stillness and quiet.

The creator of the series is an acclaimed industrial designer who, both in art and in design, seeks harmony between form and meaning. He believes that our bodies can express emotions as loudly as a scream or as softly as a whisper.

"Breath" symbolizes that brief pause between inhale and exhale. A moment where internal tension finds release in silence—a quiet space in which we can reconnect with our own thoughts and emotions. The painting invites personal interpretation and reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful insights come when we simply sit still, turn away from the noise, and listen to what truly breathes within us.


autor: Michal Bonikowski

year: 2025

medium: Acrylic on canvas

size: 100 x 70 cm

Modern living room with dark walls, a light gray sofa, and a black coffee table. A framed artwork of a person sitting on a chair is above a sleek fireplace. Large window with beige curtains on the right. Painting by Michal Bonikowski

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