Polska Folk – Londyn

On September 24, 2009, at Tent London, a group of Polish designers inaugurated an exhibition as part of the Polish Year in the United Kingdom.

Poland Folk presents a series of new projects that illustrate the influence of folk motifs and techniques on contemporary Polish design, decorative arts, and architecture. It is an attempt to synthesize, summarize, and gather, in one time and place, works inspired by Polish art and folk craftsmanship—encompassing form, material, technical solutions, and poetic aspects.

The invitation extended to Polish creators to participate in the festival demonstrates that contemporary Polish design, deeply rooted in Polish heritage and cultural diversity, can be attractive to a sophisticated European audience.

Traditional patterns from Polish decorative art give our design a unique character, while the materials and local craftsmanship speak volumes about our tradition and origins. This makes Polish design distinctly identifiable and meaningful while remaining aligned with the mainstream of European design.

Poland FOLK showcases products produced in limited editions, unique pieces, and prototypes, as well as designs waiting to be popularized, alongside a selection of well-known Polish patterns. Some of the exhibited products have already gained international recognition, while others are still earning their reputation. All, however, deserve attention not only from art connoisseurs but also from a wider audience.

“Returning to roots and traditional manufacturing techniques is a strong trend in the last decade, not only in Poland but across Europe. It speaks to the search for one’s own identity, uniqueness, and locality in the age of globalization and ubiquitous media. This phenomenon is observable not only in industrial design but also in fashion, music, and cuisine,” says exhibition curator Agnieszka Jacobson-Cielecka. “In the exhibition, we present the most interesting works inspired by Polish culture and artistic craftsmanship, especially its simple, folk roots. Creators are fascinated by rural decorative motifs—lace, stripes, cut-outs, aprons, traditional forms, and natural materials. However, they view their cultural heritage with distance and humor, without excessive seriousness. The works have been designed by creators from the generation of thirty-somethings. This is the most interesting group of Polish designers. Educated after the political transformations, they mostly not only design but also engage in the production and promotion of their work. The selected pieces primarily combine emotions and humor.”

The exhibition features works from Malafora, Joanna Rusin and Agnieszka Czop, Aze Design, Agnieszka Lasota, Platform, Chrum, Kafti, Bogdan Kosak, GOGO, as well as the architectural design of the Polish pavilion for EXPO 2010.

The exhibition Poland FOLK was organized by the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute in Warsaw, with the support of the city of Stalowa Wola.

The exhibition takes place at Tent London from September 24 to 27, 2009, as part of the 100% Design London festival (www.tentlondon.co.uk).

Curator of the exhibition: Agnieszka Jacobson-Cielecka.

AGNIESZKA JACOBSON-CIELECKA – curator of many exhibitions and a journalist, expert and popularizer of contemporary design. Artistic director of the Łódź Design Festival in 2008 and 2009 (www.lodzdesign.com). Collaborates with many cultural institutions in Poland and abroad, organizing exhibitions of Polish and international design. She is also involved in the promotion of design and designers.

From 2000 to 2007, editor-in-chief of the Polish edition of Elle Decoration. A graduate of the painting department at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk.

Coordination:

Anna Szlązak

aszlazak@muzeum.stalowawola.pl