Bolesławiec is renowned for photography and photographic artists. Friday evening at the Museum of Ceramics was devoted to two significant creators of the photographic movement in the city of ceramics: Andrzej Pytliński (1933–2020) and Mikołaj Jankowski (1935–2020). Anna Bober-Tubaj, Jana Trawniczek, Janusz Moniatowicz and Jerzy Paluszczyszyn spoke about the activists and organizers of the local photographic community and the founders of the Bolesławiec Photographic Society.
“The classes taught by Andrzej Pytliński were so difficult, so incomprehensible to me and also a little boring,” Jerzy Paluszczyszyn recalled about his first meeting with the teacher. “Andrzej did not realize that he had ordinary, average people in his lecture; he buried us in those formulas, and at that time the color photography process was complicated. The only interesting classes were those at the ‘Chemik’ club, where the darkroom sessions were truly engaging. And the classes with Mikołaj Jankowski were like physical education lessons in the old days: everyone had to manage on their own, while Mikołaj Jankowski was merely a guest,” Paluszczyszyn recalled.
Janusz Moniatowicz also shared his memories of joint exhibitions and outdoor photography trips with the evening’s protagonists. He recalled that Andrzej Pytliński was a highly distinguished figure in photography in Bolesławiec. He was an institution in his own right, brought together people from many communities and, as an extraordinary polymath, possessed a great ability to pass on knowledge. For years, he led courses and meetings promoting photographic knowledge. He showed a different, broader perspective on photography, thanks to which photography was perceived as one of the fields of art.
He added that the establishment of the Bolesławiec Photographic Society was a very important moment for the city. Mikołaj Jankowski built it from the ground up with inexhaustible energy. The organization’s activity further stabilized the strong position of Bolesławiec photography in the country, and there were not many such places on Poland’s cultural map.
Jana Trawniczek recalled how, together with Andrzej Pytliński, she organized an audiovisual performance in Bolesławiec, using still images in the form of slides projected onto a screen and sound synchronized with them.
“The first time, we created a diaporama with a projection—a reverse diaporama. Andrzej came up with the idea. We wanted the entire J. Piłsudski Square to be the audience area, and Andrzej calculated everything. We searched for materials that would fit and could reflect the image. He was an extraordinary man,” Jana Trawniczek added.
Mikołaj Jankowski was born on May 5, 1935, in Mościska. He was trained as a geological technician specializing in the prospecting of radioactive elements and radiation protection. He first encountered photography at the “Konrad” Mining Works in Iwiny. Initially observing his supervisor’s work, he eventually began documenting the underground labor of miners himself. He spent 33 years of his professional life at the “Konrad” Mining Works (1953–1986), while continuing to pursue his passion for photography. He was one of the first members of the Photographic Section established in 1972 at the “Bolesławianka” Housing Cooperative. From November 27, 1982, Mikołaj Jankowski was a member of the Council of the Federation of Photographic Associations; from May 17, 1987, he was a member of its Presidium and later of the Audit Committee of the PFSF. In 1995, he was one of the founders and secretary of the Nationwide Creative Group Art.-Foto, based in Bolesławiec. He received high state decorations for his professional achievements. For his photographic activity, he was honored with numerous medals and distinctions. He died on December 31, 2020, at the age of 86.
Andrzej Pytliński was born in 1933 in Żyrardów. In 1957, he graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry at Warsaw University of Technology. He possessed extensive knowledge of chemical processes which, combined with his passion for photography, enabled him to become an outstanding specialist. He began his own photographic activity in 1950 as a member of the Polish Photographic Society. In 1990, he became a member of the Chapter of the Photoclub of the Republic of Poland. In 2004, he participated in organizing prestigious workshops in Myślibórz promoting historical photographic techniques. In 2012, he conducted a series of workshops devoted to pictorial photography at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. In 2011, he was honored by the Mayor of Bolesławiec for his photographic activity and creative work. In June 2017, the General Assembly of Delegates of the Union of Polish Art Photographers granted him honorary membership in ZPAF. For his activities, he twice received the “Distinguished Cultural Activist” badge and was also awarded the “Distinguished for Polish Photography” medal. He died in 2020 at the age of 87 in Bolesławiec.