Art / artist
Polish artist’s blog helps her overcome depression
A Polish artist living in Knowle has found an unusual way to fight depression and tackle the problems of living as an immigrant.
Maria Pajestka is the founder of the Fourth Son project. This is a blog consisting of prose and poetry columns, as well as opinion pieces and commentary on contemporary events, such as lockdown and the fight for abortion rights in Poland.
For many years, Maria suffered from neurosis and agoraphobia. Her introverted nature kept her at a distance from society and professional support.
is needed now More than ever
However, the coronavirus pandemic and government restrictions have unleashed in Maria the will to overcome many difficulties. She launched her blog during the initial lockdown last year.
“Adjusting to life in another country, with both mental and emotional illnesses crushing you at the same time, is a huge effort,” explains Maria.
“I have decided to try to fight for myself using my artistic and graphic skills. That is how the Fourth Son project came to be. It’s a place where I can share my art.”
Maria has also got in touch with many other artists, who have found it important to participate in the development of the Fourth Son project as a unique cultural meeting place.
A Polish artist living in Knowle has found an unusual way to fight depression and tackle the problems of living as an immigrant. Photo by Maria Pajetska
During the lockdown, artists did not have anywhere to show their artwork in public. So a new section was created on the Fourth Son website, containing photographs, prints and paintings made by artists in quarantine.
Maria continues: “In my opinion, there are no values greater than cooperation, friendship, and love. I hope that the Fourth Son project will be able to pass these values on to the person on the other side of the screen.
“It also made me realise how much satisfaction comes from working with other people in these difficult times. Which for me, as an introvert, was previously unthinkable.
“Divided, isolated from each other by the pandemic, we absolutely need each other to function properly, develop and survive the worst moments.”
The blog is in the Polish language but will gradually feature texts translated from Polish into English, so that English-speaking readers will be able to explore the richness of Polish culture.
In the future, Maria is planning a series of video interviews with Bożena Suchanek about the clash of Polishness with English culture, changes in identity and way of life. Bożena lives in Darlington and is behind the popular Polish blog Moja Anglia (My England).
“I’m extremely pleased to be a part of the Fourth Son project,” says Bożena. “Maria says she gathers interesting people with unique personalities – and I’m exactly like that.”
The Fourth Son blog features input from other Polish artists living in the UK, such as Bożena Suchanek. Photo by Bożena Suchanek
In 2022, The Foreigner will be published on Fourth Son. This is Maria’s upcoming book about trauma, illness, alienation, adapting to life in a foreign country, love, emotional development, and growth in consciousness.
The artist is also hoping to open a physical gallery for Fourth Son, where people could buy paintings and graphics, and where vernissages and literary meetings would be organised.
”I dream of a place like this in Bristol, where Polish and European cultures can meet at one point of contact; where prejudice and racism are pushed aside by a common perception of art,” she concludes.
Read the Fourth Son blog by visiting www.fourthsonuk.com
Katarzyna Sowinska reporting on the Polish community as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a pilot project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media
Main photo by Maria Pajetska
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