Crystals Totem

Crystals Totem is a minimalist sculpture composed of geometric, multi-dimensional modules with a mirror surface called “crystals” – forms that Oskar Zięta uses in several of his projects. Carefully planned four-sided, multi-dimensional forms of the Crystals reflect light, generating unexpected colour impressions, while sharp edges give them a dynamic and rapacious character. Arranged vertically they resemble Constantin Brâncuși’s wooden columns, while located next to the light source they become a shimmering kaleidoscope.

Created in 2018 for the Jerke Museum as part of the Festival of Light in Recklinghausen (from 19 September to 4 November 2018), the Crystal Totem referred to the museum’s building, and its polished surface reflected light, creating multi-coloured after-images – a tribute to Wojciech Fangor, an outstanding Polish painter and author of stained-glass from the museum’s collection.

The minimalist, geometric lines of the sculpture open up associations to such art movements as constructivism, cubism and op-art. Forms of these metallic gemstones play with our senses and bring to mind postmodern architecture. Crystal Totem, like many other Zieta’s projects, makes use of the paradigm of modularity, repetition and multiplication. Its structure is the effect of composing concave and convex shapes, and its reflective surface multiplies the surrounding space.