Daily News – Warsaw were created on yellowed paper to given them an oldish feel, the images consist of found items (old-art reproductions, book illustrations, photographs) and drawing elements, making them look like old prints or sketches, comics, or murals. The first impression is one of admiration for the harmony of composition, an ability to evoke the mood of old art. Closer inspection, however, will cause surprise or even shock, revealing ‘naughty’ or bloody details that change the larger picture.

But Bańda’s cute or funny images often hide a second – dark, or actually grim – bottom. Her works not only interpret daily trivia, but also address the contemporary city’s real issues.

Far from moralising, Basia Bańda’s exhibition examines the complexity of the human condition in both its individual and collective aspects, portraying the human being as part of both wild nature and the urban jungle. At the same time, it comes over as a subjective portrait of Warsaw, drawn by a witty and absurdity-sensitive outsider.