The National Gallery
Tucked in between the Saxon Park and the magnificently domed Holy Trinity Lutheran church you'll find a white, elaborately decorated manor with massive columns and a beautiful staircase leading to the imposing doors of Galeria Zacheta- Poland's National Gallery.
Though not grand in scale, the building housing the National Gallery is the perfect backdrop to properly expose the inspiring content inside. When B[ZU] visited last weekend, it held 3 expositions: Magdalena Wiecek, Wojciech Zamecznik, and Polish Contemporary Children's Illustration.
Though not grand in scale, the building housing the National Gallery is the perfect backdrop to properly expose the inspiring content inside. When B[ZU] visited last weekend, it held 3 expositions: Magdalena Wiecek, Wojciech Zamecznik, and Polish Contemporary Children's Illustration.
Polish Contemporary Children's Illustration
The Illustration exhibit is an immense hit with the young visitors, something that we instantly sensed as soon as we hit the coatroom. An overwhelming ratio of the crowd was under 3' and the prams took up much more of the space than the wet umbrellas that visitors were leaving around. We visited this part of the gallery out of sheer curiosity and were rewarded for our courage. It was paradise, especially for anyone who loves books. Poles have an incredible knack for making the cutest things, especially illustrations. From books about bees, to beards, from dragons to how to pickle, Polish children have the richest selection of well-written, beautifully designed and masterfully illustrated literature ever. In Zacheta, there is a huge wall COVERED in Polish books with more scattered around the room. We loved the posters encouraging kids and families to read and the enormous 40' bean bag "serpent" on which parents and kids sat while reading or watching a short film on drawing illustrations. There were also some interactive displays and surfaces that allowed little hands to grab and press things, use markers and chalk to create masterpieces on the walls, and let their minds explore creativity.
This miniature audience was not limited to the Children's Exhibit. While we were visiting the rest of the gallery, we would bump into spellbound groups exploring art with the help of interesting guides with an inept talent for deciphering the visual into ideas that the children (and the parents) could understand.
This miniature audience was not limited to the Children's Exhibit. While we were visiting the rest of the gallery, we would bump into spellbound groups exploring art with the help of interesting guides with an inept talent for deciphering the visual into ideas that the children (and the parents) could understand.
Wojciech Zamecznik
The Wojciech Zamecznik exhibit really opened our eyes to the technology that people used to create graphics only a short time ago but without computers and Adobe Suite. Known as a photography artist, Zamecznik took his passion and skill a step further into creating graphics for posters and other prints by experimenting with photo developing techniques. He would plan out what he wanted the final project to look like with gouache paints and then use photography and alternative developing with which he would manipulate the colours and placement to recreate the same effect. It sounds so simple but it's actually incredible. He progressed into making short films transitioning between videography and animation.
Another thing that endeared this artist to me was his tendency to use his family, especially his wife, as subjects for his work. It reminded me of times before the selfie, before digital, when the photographer of the family was just Dad and it was his lens that captured all the dramatic and comical moments of everyday life.
Another thing that endeared this artist to me was his tendency to use his family, especially his wife, as subjects for his work. It reminded me of times before the selfie, before digital, when the photographer of the family was just Dad and it was his lens that captured all the dramatic and comical moments of everyday life.
Magdalena Wiecek
Next we moved into a room where we were greeted by a series of sculptures created by Magdalena Wiecek. Her range of styles fascinated me, with some very organic and light looking concrete and steel pieces followed by large metal aluminum sculptures once again contrasted by stone and semi-precious elements. I love how this artist tackled such large and structurally advanced pieces despite being a slight woman. One of her ideas for a public installment caught my eye as it was to be situated right outside my window here in Warsaw! I wish that it had been realized, instead of a cigarette kiosk...
A Gallery Worth Visiting in Warsaw
The National Gallery is not what one would assume it to be. It doesn't have any impressive Jan Matejko battle scene canvases or medieval altar pieces. It is a small and constantly changing place that showcases all facets of art, not just paintings and sculpture. I know that the lovely afternoon spent here really changed my perception, not only of art, but of the ingenuity of Polish people. Being without proper resources, behind the Iron Curtain, they had more than just passion- they had a NEED to create.
So, no surprise here, highly recommended for all visiting Warsaw! The Gallery is free on Thursdays and has discounts for students, so don't forget your ISIC card if you have one.
Bisouxxx,
B[ZU}
So, no surprise here, highly recommended for all visiting Warsaw! The Gallery is free on Thursdays and has discounts for students, so don't forget your ISIC card if you have one.
Bisouxxx,
B[ZU}