Facing Wyspianski
February 9-March 30, 2008
This past year we recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of Stanislaw Wyspianski’s death. A continuation of the peculiar celebration, a reminder of the immense output of one of Poland’s greatest artists, is the unusual, multithreaded exhibition “WOBEC WYSPIAŃSKI”, which is presented from February 9 to March 30 at the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola. The key word here is WOBEC, which shows not only a part of Wyspianski’s output, but being in relation to his literary output – directors, stage designers, actors. Being in relation to creativity, artistic, visual arts are also attempted by contemporary artists. Being BEFORE gives rise to many interesting interpretations, thoughts, insights, creations….
The exhibition consists of three parts. The first shows a collection of original works by Stanislaw Wyspianski, depicting a rich artistic output from pastel portraits to elaborate landscapes, with the famous “View from the studio window to the Kosciuszko Mound,” one of many impressions, painted repeatedly at different times of the year and day. In addition, an undoubted treat for literature lovers will be books of Wyspianski’s works, published while the artist was still alive. All of Stanislaw Wyspianski’s works have been lent not only from museums, but also from a sizable collection from a private collection.
Another aspect of Stanisław Wyspiański’s work as a playwright, poet, stagecraftsman and creator of modern Polish theater is hinted at with outstanding set designs by Krystyna Zachwatowicz-Wajda and sketches by Andrzej Wajda. This is an opportunity to view original sketches, drawings of costumes and scenes for individual Wyspiański dramas, as well as large-format photographs of theatrical and film performances. These include sketches and photographs for “The Wedding” staged in 1963 at the Stary Theater in Cracow, or for the 1972 film “The Wedding,” directed by Andrzej Wajda, which received positive reviews around the world. In addition, the exhibition features drawings, sketches for “The Curse,” staged in 1997 at the Stary Theater, and for “November Night,” staged at the same theater in 1974. The exhibition plays the film“ The Wedding” from 1972.
It is complemented by a very original, perhaps controversial at times, exhibition, which is an attempt to creatively refer to Stanislaw Wyspianski’s oeuvre and includes works by 17 authors, artists – pedagogues of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow.
The originator and author of the scenario and at the same time one of the creators, Professor Adam Brincken, invited to the “spiritual feast with Wyspiański”:
Zbigniew Bajek, Andrzej Bednarczyk, Grzegorz Bednarski, Joanna Kaiser, Łukasz Konieczko, Piotr Korzeniowski, Leszek Misiak, Jan Pamuła, Stanisław Rodzinski, Mirosław Sikorski, Edyta Sobieraj, Zbigniew Sprocha, Stanisław Tabisz, Dariusz Vasina, Jacek Waltoś and Adam Wsiołkowski.
The individual artists presented works of different iconography, character and style. It was meant to be an interpretation of the artist’s great work, an artistic response and a tribute to the brilliant artist. Thus, one can see spatial arrangements, installations, projects, stage paintings, and classic easel paintings on canvas, as well as drawings and prints. The inspirations touch on various aspects of Wyspianski’s work, from formal solutions in painting composition, through exploring themes such as motherhood, to the famous Herbarium.
In the catalog, Professor Adam Brincken writes:
“In inviting guest artists to a feast with Wyspianski, I was guided by the conviction that DRAMAT is present in the work of the contemporary artist. Present, but only where painting about man touches his condition in a far more than existential dimension; where wanderings of imagination – visions meet the experience of the day, but also reach towards the unknowable (…); where we touch questions about the source, our place, identity….”
Curators of the exhibition: Anna Król, Adam Bincken
Coordination on the part of the museum: Anna Szlazak
