France
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Roman Opałka
Abbeville, France
Archival Overview
French-born Polish conceptual painter who spent 46 years on a single monumental artistic project: painting consecutive numbers from 1 towards infinity to capture the passing of mortal time.
Biographical Record
Roman Opałka was born in France to Polish parents and survived wartime deportation to Germany before studying fine art at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. In 1965, in his Warsaw studio, he made a life-defining philosophical decision: to record the irreversible progression of time.
Beginning in 1965 with the number 1 painted in white on a black canvas (measuring 196 x 135 cm), Opałka continued numbering sequentially across 222 canvases ('Details'). Adding 1% more white to the background of each canvas, his numbers gradually dissolved into pure white; upon his death, he had reached the number 5,607,249.
Key Life Milestones
Commencement of OPALKA 1965/1 - Infinity
Painted the number '1' on canvas, beginning a monumental conceptual journey that lasted until his final breath.
Venice Biennale Polish Pavilion
Represented Poland at the 46th Venice Biennale with his breathtaking visual chronicle of mortal time.
Memorial Guestbook & Tributes
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Final Resting Place
Perpetual MemorialParis, France