Elementary of Polish design in Tarnow

It is not easy to show 100 years of Polish design by limiting yourself to 100 objects. How to choose the most important? How not to succumb to the temptation to show only icons? How to interest not only experts? How to present the diversity of design fields?

Among the 100 projects, in addition to furniture, glass or porcelain, i.e. objects commonly associated with design, there are less obvious things: typefaces, logos, children’s toys, a locomotive, a neon sign, a glider, a scooter, and even Poland’s tastiest treat Ptasie Mleczko and Ringo rubber ring – a Polish sports game. On display are both contemporary designs and those that have managed to become classics. Uniques, verging on individual works of art; prototypes that never entered mass production; but also very popular items that Poles have been using on a daily basis for the last 100 years.

This exhibition also connects the past with the present, showing the achievements of Polish design through the achievements of contemporary Polish graphic design. This is because the “Primer” exhibition presents 100 works by Polish designers interpreted by twenty-five Polish illustrators – artists with very different achievements: experienced masters of the Polish school of illustration, illustrators of the young and middle generation winning awards around the world today and quite young ones who have just graduated. Most of the invited illustrators illustrate children’s books while also working in the broad field of visual communication. They present different styles and techniques, all of them united by great talent.

The exhibition is not only 100 objects and 100 of their artistic interpretations, it is also 100 stories: about designers, about needs, about dreams, about possibilities and about limitations. It tells not only about specific projects. It also shows what the design process is all about, how ideas are formed, and finally what an amazing concept design is – the closest art field to man, which we are all surrounded by, which we interact with on a daily basis, and which we couldn’t do without, although we often don’t realize it.

The presentation of the projects in chronological order shows that in the 100-year history of Polish design, certain materials, themes and forms return, still assuming new faces. The exhibition is aimed at a wide audience, including the youngest generation. It was created to celebrate the centennial of Poland’s Independence. 

Illustrators participating in the exhibition:

1. Jacek Ambrożewski

2. Edgar Bąk

3. Maciek Blaźniak

4. Katarzyna Bogucka

5. Bohdan Butenko

6. Iwona Chmielewska

7. Robert Czajka

8. Agata Dudek

9. Emilia Dziubak

10. Małgorzata Gurowska

11. Monika Hanulak

12. Marta Ignerska

13. Tymek Jezierski

14. Paweł Jońca

15. Agata Królak

16. Grażka Lange

17. Patryk Mogilnicki

18. Piotr Młodożeniec

19. Ania Niemierko

20. Ola Niepsuj

21. Marianna Oklejak

22. Paweł Pawlak

23. Dawid Ryski

24. Marianna Sztyma

25. Ola Woldańska-Płocińska

Exhibition partner: Adam Mickiewicz Institute

Full program of the ArtFest Festival: https://bit.ly/BWAArtFest2020

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