Retroavangarda and Korekta Gallery collection exhibition is available for viewing until 25th October in Korekta Gallery in Warsaw. The exhibition is organized in connection with the first edition of Warsaw by Art. Warsaw by Art is a project created by renowned Warsaw galleries and its purpose is promotion of contemporary art. The exhibition is also being held during the 100th anniversary of avant-garde in Poland (Year of the Avant-garde). The exposition includes artworks by world famous artists, among whom there are both representatives of the main avant-garde movement and its successors: Josef Albers / Jan Berdyszak / Henryk Berlewi / Stanisław Fijałkowski / Koji Kamoji / Jerzy Grabowski / Jerzy Grochocki / Macaparana / Dariusz Mlącki / Jozef Peeters / Władysław Strzemiński / Henryk Stażewski / Urszula Ślusarczyk.
From the left: Berlewi, Peeters, Grabowski, Albers
Let’s take a closer look at selected artworks:
Small in size, two-sided linocut by Jozef Peeters is a part of a publication consisting of 8 abstract pieces, black and white graphics and typographic cover. The artwork dates back to 1921 and is an example of the beginnings of geometric abstraction in Europe. Jozef Peeters next to Karel Maes is considered to be the pioneer of Belgian avant-garde.
Henryk Berlewi – the main representative of avant-garde in Poland, the exhibition showcases two of his artworks – colored lithography from 1922 featuring a geometricized female figure and a poster promoting Berlewi’s first retrospective exhibition, held in 1964 in Berlin.
The collection features also graphics by Jerzy Grabowski, a prominent geometric artist, initiator of the International Triennial of Graphic Arts in Poland. Four miniatures are made in the technique of colored linocut. They are accompanied by a sketch/drawing of larger dimensions done by hand. Grabowski’s sketches are of the same value as his other works of art, they were signed and dated by the artist.
The same goes for sketches for paintings by the famous abstract artist Josef Albers. Associated with Bauhaus, Albers had a scientific approach to his research on composition and color. His drawing made by hand with oil paint on paper shows exactly such character.
The collection features some big names from Polish avant-garde period. Two large lithographs by Strzemiński and Stażewski were printed in 1973 by Max Bill and issued on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of creating Abstraction-Creation art group. Max Bill studied in Bauhaus and was taught by Paul Klee and Kandinsky.
coloured lithography on paper, 50 x 50 cm
Printed in 1973 by Max Bill to mark the 40th anniversary of the creation of the “Abstraction-Création”
signed by pencil on the lower right corner: ‘H.Stazewski’
Stanisław Fijałkowski, in turn, was a student and later an assistant of Władysław Strzemiński. His graphic is also a part of the presented collection. Fijałkowski was a continuator of Polish avant-garde and abstract art and a professor of Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź – he also holds the title of doctor honoris causa of this school.
From the left: Stażewski, Fijałkowski, Mlącki
Among all other works, the spotlight was taken by Brazilian artist Macaparana – it is the first showcase of his pieces in Poland. The six artworks done in mixed media technique are a series of geometric abstracts, which proved to ideally fit the general idea of the exhibition. Macaparana’s works combine the classic avant-garde spirit with contemporary geometric art representatives.
A bit of a different vibe can be felt in Dariusz Mlącki’s paintings, which combine the world of abstracts and symbols with the spiritual, organic world, full of gradation. Mlącki’s envelopes are intriguing and stir emotions through their ambiguity and hidden mystery.
The exhibition is dominated by graphics but there are also spatial forms. This includes Jerzy Grochocki’s art – a Polish artist based in the USA, and Koji Kamoji’s reliefs – Japanese artist who lives and works in Warsaw. His concise like haiku artworks are simply fascinating and their simple, austere expression fits the style of the whole collection.
The exhibition is complete with the abstract composition by Jan Berdyszak and minimal painting by Urszula Ślusarczyk – professor of Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce. Ślusarczyk is among the leading Polish contemporary artists who use the language of geometry.
The presented collection is the beginning of a series of exhibitions to which we already invite all our readers.
Curators of the exhibition: Anna Kłos and Dariusz Mlącki
Translation: Karolina Kłos