Judaism in the Arts

Inspired by Jewish culture, works by over thirty artists from all over Poland – posters and paintings, sculptures, photographs, videos, installations, paper cuttings and ceramics – go on display at the Białoprądnicki Manor at the exhibition Judaism in the Arts. The diversity of the artworks is shown in the number of the genres on display and the artists’ approach to the theme. As well as posters by Lex Drewinski, Władysław Pluta, Jacek Staniszewski and Jerzy Tchórzewski bearing current social messages, we will see a poster designed by Artur Kapturski; the artist pays homage to victims of the Nazi genocide by creating a painting of portraits based on preserved photos of those murdered at the Auschwitz concentration camp. Helena Czernek’s woodcuts and Damian Josef Neć video art present a subtle dialogue with the past and Biblical tradition. We also find some light relief in paintings by Lila Fijałkowska and Justyna Majewska and wooden sculptures by Wojciech Kowalski. The exhibition is a testament to the memory and continuing presence of Jewish culture in contemporary Polish art. (Dorota Dziunikowska, “Karnet” monthly)