The exhibition of Magdalena Abakanowicz is the first in 25 years to feature such an extensive big individual presentation in Warsaw. The exhibition of this outstanding artist is of a retrospective nature. There are works from the last 20 years of her practice including a lot never before shown in Poland - among them a series of carvings titled "War Games", "Backward" and "Hurma", as well as more recent works made between 1994 and 1995. (po polsku)
Magdalena Abakanowicz is a distinguished sculptor and the most
famous Polish artist - beside Krzyszyof Wodiczko and Roman Opalko - in the
world. Her famous woven works, called "Abakans", gained in the
mid-1960's an international reputation and were presented in
numerous galleries and museums all over the world. Their success
began in 1965 at the Sao Paolo Biennal, where the artist was
awarded the first prize, "Grand Prix".
There will be selected Abakans - monumental tapestries of
particular sculptural and architectural form - in the Centre's
exhibition. Abakans revolutionised a traditional notion of
tapestry and its place in contemporary art.
Since the early 70's Abakanowicz has begun a series of
carvings mostly featuring the human figure or bigger groups.
Sculptures made from organic materials - burlap sacking
impregnated with glue and resins as well as those cast in metal
of the human figure. The body being an universal metaphor for
the human condition.
From the beginning of the 1960's Abakanowicz's works have been
shown in many important Art Festivals (Sao Paolo, Venice
Biennale, Sydney Biennale, Fuji in Japan...) and in many
individual and group exhibitions in well-known museums and
galleries, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago,
Kunsthalle Malmo, Musee d'Art Moderne in Paris, CA PS1 in New
York, the Dallas Museum of Art and numerous other galleries all
over the world. Her works are in many museum and private
collections.
Because of the character of the artist's creativity which
features problems so close to human feelings, the Abakanowicz's
exhibition will become undoubtedly a big artistic event in
Poland. The fact that it is the first for many years on such a
large scale is also very significant. Considering the artist's
status and her immense output, this exhibition is of beneficial
educational meaning. The display in the Centre for Contemporary
Art will be accompanied by an comprehensive publication
featuring the artist's creativity (available in early October)
as well as a small scale catalogue.
The curator of the exhibition is Piotr Rypson.
Co-operation: Radoslaw Rozycki
Translated by Joanna Mizielinska
The Centre for Contemporary Art, Ujazdowski Castle
Al.Ujazdowskie 6,
00-461 Warsaw, Poland
tel: (48 22) 628 12 71-3, (48 22) 628 76 83
fax: (48 22) 628 95 50
e-mail: csw@ikp.atm.com.pl