I want to step out myself, go beyond, achieve the impossible, fulfil an
unprecedented task, realise a vision, create an absolutely convincing
painting, build it with decisions. A.W.
A new Polish Art Gallery has opened at the National Museum in Poznań, marking a significant event for research on Andrzej Wróblewski’s work. For the first time in 76 years, The Emotional Content of Revolution is being presented in its entirety. The painting was previously displayed in full only once, at the Exhibition of Modern Art in the vestibule of the Palace of Art in Kraków, organized in late 1948 and early 1949. Wróblewski debuted at this exhibition as the youngest participant, showcasing works such as Earth, A Painting About the Horrors of War (Fish Without Heads), and The Sun and Other Stars.
By June 1949, Wróblewski had cut the canvas in half, creating Partisans (painted between June 13–19) on one half, and Station 45 / Station in the Recovered Territories (painted between September 10–15) on the other. The latter was displayed a few months later at the exhibition of the Self-Education Team during the Inter-School Exhibition of State Higher Art Schools in Poznań. In 1982, Station 45 / Station in the Recovered Territories was acquired for the collection of the National Museum in Poznań.
Meanwhile, Partisans has been in the National Museum in Poznań for several years as a deposit from the Wielkopolska Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts. At the owner’s request, and in cooperation with the Andrzej Wróblewski Foundation, the painting underwent conservation, including the removal of black paint that had covered the reverse. The artwork also received a new frame, identical to that of Station 45 / Station in the Recovered Territories, allowing for double-sided display. Currently, the figurative compositions are exhibited according to the artist’s intention, resulting in the separation of The Emotional Content of Revolution. It is worth noting that the museum plans to present the painting in its 1948 state in the coming years, enabling viewers to appreciate the entire composition.
These and other aspects of Andrzej Wróblewski’s double-sided canvases are discussed in Magdalena Ziółkowska’s essay, The Pictures Were Seen by Countless Staring Eyes. On the First Posthumous Exhibition of Andrzej Wróblewski in Three Parts, published in 2024 by the Andrzej Wróblewski Foundation and Hatje Cantz Verlag in the book Andrzej Wróblewski. Exhibiting.
The Polish Art Gallery displays both familiar pieces from the National Museum’s permanent exhibitions and deposits. These include works by prominent Polish artists such as Jacek Malczewski, Władysław Podkowiński, Stanisław Wyspiański, Maria Jarema, Tadeusz Kantor, and Jerzy Nowosielski.
The curators of the exhibition are Maria Gołąb, Agnieszka Skalska, Anna Borowiec, Arkadiusz Krawczyk, and Zuzanna Wagner, with the arrangement designed by Raman Tratsiuk.
The exhibition Change to come presents a unique selection of works by Polish artists that address social, political, and artistic changes. Among the pieces are works by Andrzej Wróblewski, which, in conjunction with creations by young contemporary artists, emphasize the role of artists as witnesses and creators of social transformation. The juxtaposition of historical works from the mid-20th century with contemporary pieces highlights the dialogue between generations and the ongoing commitment of Polish artists to current social issues.
The idea for the exhibition emerged in 2023 at the invitation of Marion Ackermann, Director General of Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. The project was developed by Hanna Wróblewska in collaboration with curator Magdalena Komornicka.
Exhibition open from November 7, 2024 to March 16, 2025 Curator: Magdalena Komornicka Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau – Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Dresden Georg-Treu-Platz 1, Dresden https://lipsiusbau.skd.museum/en/exhibitions/change-to-come/
The latest issue of the ‘Spotkania z Zabytkami’ quarterly magazine features an interview with Wojciech Grzybała and Magdalena Ziółkowska – co-founders of the Andrzej Wróblewski Foundation.
In the conversation entitled. ‘Death in Venice…’ they discuss the exhibition Andrzej Wróblewski. In the First Person accompanying this year’s La Biennale di Venezia and the significance of the city for the history of exhibiting the artist’s work – ‘this is the second, and not the first time, that Wróblewski’s canvases have been shown in Venice. In September 1959, three of them were presented by Ryszard Stanisławski at the Mostra di pittura polacca contemporanea,’ emphasises Wojciech Grzybała, ‘today, when almost 70 years have passed since the artist’s death, the exhibition Andrzej Wróblewski. In the First Person unquestionably confirms the presence of the artist’s works in the canon of post-war art. And at the same time, it opens it up to new avenues of interpretation. This is an extremely important moment in the international reception of his work.’
The co-founders talk about the challenging conservation of the works on paper – a recent project of the Foundation – as and about the remarkable resulting discoveries.
The interview is available in the paper version of the quarterly magazine ‘Spotkania z Zabytkami’ (July-September 3/2024) and online.
The exhibition New Generation and Classics from Wojciech Fibak’s Collection showcases over 200 works by Polish artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. It features pieces by renowned figures such as Andrzej Wróblewski, Magdalena Abakanowicz, and Wojciech Fangor, alongside works from younger artists, including Ewa Juszkiewicz, Karolina Jabłońska, and Agata Kus. The exhibition highlights the dialogue between generations, emphasizing both differences and unexpected connections in their art.
The exhibition is curated by Krzysztof Stanisławski and includes a catalog and educational program.
On 21 June 2024, in the courtyard of the historic Brukenthal National Museum in Sibiu, the opening ceremony of the exhibition Tatras. Wróblewski, Karłowicz, Wyczółkowski. The exhibition, which was displayed last year at the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Krakow, made a new appearance at the Museum in Sibiu, this time inaugurating the first ever Poland-Romania Cultural Season 2024-2025, which aims to develop and strengthen cultural cooperation between the two countries.
WThe event was opened by the anthems of Poland and Romania played by the orchestra. The first speech was given by Alexandru Chituță, director of the Brukenthal National Museum – the institution hosting the exhibition.
The opening of the exhibition Tatras. Wróblewski, Karłowicz, Wyczółkowski on 21 June 2024. Speech by the Minister Hanna Wróblewska.
This was followed by a speech by Hanna Wróblewska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage in Poland, who pointed out the double significance of the event. She emphasised the wide and varied nature of the events organised as part of the Season – music, theatre, exhibitions, film and literature, and the fact that they will take place not only in the capitals but many Polish and Romanian cities. “I hope that this programme will contribute to the strengthening of mutual relations and the friendship that for a long time has united our countries,” the Minister said, “However, it is important that any strategic partnership of this kind is filled with content. It seems to me that this season gives us such hope. We have managed to involve the most important cultural institutions in both countries, so we hope that this cooperation will not end with the Season but will continue.”
Further speeches were given by Raluci Turcan, Minister of Culture and National Heritage in Romania, and Liviu Jijckman, President of the Romanian Cultural Institute. Olga Wysocka, director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, emphasised the role of art in building intercultural ties: “I believe that art is the finest bridge between our cultures. That is why during the Cultural Season we will present to you the most outstanding works of Polish artists of the 20th and 21st centuries”. In the end, the floor was taken by the co-founders of the Andrzej Wróblewski Foundation and the curators Wojciech Grzybała and Magdalena Ziółkowska, who explained the idea of the exhibition to the guests. The entire event was translated into Romanian, Polish and English.
After the official part, the guests made their way to the exhibition space, where a curator’s guided tour took place. The exhibition, presenting the works of three artists who had a major impact on Polish culture and art in the 19th and 20th centuries: Andrzej Wróblewski, Mieczysław Karłowicz and Leon Wyczółkowski, will run until September 1, 2024. It is curated by Professor Anna Król, Dr Magdalena Ziółkowska and Wojciech Grzybała. The event has been organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Andrzej Wróblewski Foundation, the Brukenthal National Museum and the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Krakow, in collaboration with the Romanian Ministry of Culture and the Polish Institute in Bucharest.
In the photo: Wojciech Grzybała, Magdalena Ziółkowska and Anna Król and Raluci Turcan.In the photo: Alexandru Chituță, Magdalena Ziółkowska, Wojciech Grzybała, Hanna Wróblewska, Raluci Turcan, Anna Król, Liviu Jijckman, Olga Wysocka, Paweł Soloch, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Romania.Curatorial tour of the exhibition Tatry. Wróblewski, Karłowicz, Wyczółkowski. In the photo: Anna Król, Hanna Wróblewska and Wojciech Grzybała.
On June 21, 2024, the Brukenthal National Museum in Sibiu (Romania) will hold the opening of the exhibition entitled The Tatras. Wróblewski, Karłowicz, Wyczółkowski. The exhibition, which was hosted last year at the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Krakow, will make a new appearance at the museum in Sibiu. At the same time, its inauguration will mark the launch of the first ever Poland-Romania Cultural Season 2024-2025, which aims to develop and strengthen cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Among the works on display are a series of inks by Andrzej Wróblewski with views of the Tatra Mountains (from 1952-53) and the artist’s geometric abstractions from 1948, prints of mountain landscapes by Mieczysław Karłowicz, and prints by Leon Wyczółkowski inspired by Japanese aesthetics, including unique trial prints from his 1906 portfolio of Eight Aquatints. The works come from nine private collections, the National Museum in Kraków and the Dr Tytus Chałubiński Tatra Museum in Zakopane. Mieczysław Karłowicz’s photographs will be on display courtesy of the PTTK Central Centre for Mountain Tourism in Krakow.
The exhibition is organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Andrzej Wróblewski Foundation, the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Krakow, in cooperation with the Brukenthal National Museum, the Romanian Ministry of Culture and the Polish Institute in Bucharest.
Exhibition open from June 22 to September 1, 2024 Curators: Anna Król, Magdalena Ziółkowska, Wojciech Grzybała Brukenthal National Museum Piata Mare 4-5 550163 Sibiu www.brukenthalmuseum.ro
The Colours of Life exhibition is a presentation of seventy works by nine Polish painters of the 20th and 21st centuries. Among the artists whose works are on display are Jan Lebenstein, Andrzej Wróblewski, Franciszek Starowieyski, Henryk Cześnik, Kiejstut Bereźnicki, Edward Dwurnik, Tadeusz Pfeiffer, Ewa Skaper and Zbigniew Urbalewicz. All the works come from the art collection of Maria and Marek Pilecki, who have been collecting paintings, prints, sculptures and drawings for the past 40 years.
photo: Mateusz Wolski | KCK
According to the deputy director of the Kielce Cultural Centre, Artur Wijata, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to discover the common denominator of the works of outstanding artists and to take a deeper dive into the world of Polish contemporary art. The exhibition is curated by Zbigniew Buski.
The monograph Andrzej Wróblewski. Exhibiting, devoted to the history of exhibiting and contemporary curatorial strategies that have shaped the reception of the artist’s work.
The 780 pages include essays by Noit Banai, Marek Bieńczyk, Fr. Adam Boniecki, Maja and Reuben Fowkes, Soren Gauger, Eckhart Gillen, Zofia Gołubiew, Owen Hatherley, Tom Holert, Dorota Jarecka, Joanna Kiliszek, Aleksander Kościow, Eryk Krasucki, Anna Król, Mira Marcinow, Zbigniew Mikołejko, Ania Muszynska, Ruth Noack, Robert Pilat, Martin Pollack, Maria Poprzęcka, Dieter Roelstraete, Marek Sobczyk, Olga Stanislawska, Steven ten Thije, Martin Waldmeier, who all chose a single work on paper for their reflections. Prof. Marzenna Ciechańska writes about the many found large-format works painted by Wróblewski on wrapping paper and subjected to painstaking conservation. In addition, the editors of the volume – Dr Magdalena Ziółkowska and Wojciech Grzybała – analyse the contexts and circumstances of the artist’s posthumous exhibitions, including his own ideas and curatorial concepts.
In addition, the monograph contains an extensive selection of reviews by Wróblewski and his theoretical texts on exhibitions, previously unpublished archival material, and a summary of the Foundation’s 12 years of activity.
The publication was produced in collaboration with the Hatje Cantz publishing house and with the support of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
The team: graphic design (Łukasz Paluch), research (Kacper Czernij, Katarzyna Trzeciak), translation (Joanna Figiel, Soren Gauger, Krzysztof Kościuczuk, Aaron Shoichet, Joanna Trzeciak-Huss), proofreading (Jane Warrilow, Ewa Twardowska), photo editing (Tomasz Kubaczyk) and Katarzyna Mierzyńska, Paweł Szroniak, Dorota Sztyler.
On 20 April 2024, the opening of the exhibition Andrzej Wróblewski. (1927–1957). In the First Person will take place during the Venice International Art Biennale as part of the official Collateral Events. This exhibition has been organised by the Starak Family Foundation, whose founders, Anna and Jerzy Starak, own the largest private collection of the artist’s works.
The exhibition ‘In the First Person’ tells the story of art in times of captivity, of being on the leash and hobbled by orders. It’s a dialogue with contemporaries on the price and consequences of one’s choices. It’s a young artist’s postmortem cry forcourage, intransigence and social responsibility, Ania Muszyńska, curator of the exhibition, emphasises.
The exhibition will feature more than 70 works by the artist, mainly from the collection of Anna and Jerzy Starak and the collections of the national museums in Warsaw, Lublin and Wrocław, as well as other private collections.
Exhibition open from April 20 to November 24, 2024. Procuratie Vecchie Curator: Ania Muszyńska; cruatorial team: Magda Marczak-Cerońska, Kama Kieremkampt Procuratie Vecchie St Mark’s Square, San Marco 139-153/A, Venice https://starakfoundation.org/en/spectra/news/c/1/36,0
Barbara Majewska (1933-2024), art historian and critic, author of ‘Przegląd Kulturalny’ (Cultural Review), director of the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw in 1990-93, has passed away.
From the very beginning of our research into the work of Andrzej Wróblewski, she was extremely helpful and supported us with every project. We were extremely fortunate to record her recollections of the artist and their joint trip to Yugoslavia in 1956 while preparing the exhibition Andrzej Wróblewski. Waiting Room.
