During the school holidays, figures from the pupils’ favorite fairy tales and historical scenes referring to the school’s namesake were painted in the corridors of the Primary School named after the 2nd Polish Army in Tomaszów Bolesławiecki. The work was carried out by two artists, Waldemar Cieślak and Tomasz Kaluzka.
“We wanted to create a unique atmosphere in the school,” says headteacher Elżbieta Markowska. “I was tired of wainscoting that turned the school into a cold institution. I dislike drabness and mediocrity. In a poll, the children chose their favorite fairy-tale characters. Our artists used them to decorate the ground-floor corridor. The first floor features historical scenes referring to the school’s namesake.”
“We grew up with Bolek and Lolek,” says one of the creators, Waldemar Cieślak. “The children chose Donald Duck and the Smurfs, but also, to my surprise, the Pink Panther. I didn’t know it was still so popular. The historical works depicting Polish soldiers from different eras were inspired by Wojciech Kossak’s painting ‘A Soldier’s Vision.’”
When the school’s pupils returned after the holidays, they were surprised and fascinated by the changes. They admired the paintings in the corridors, which changed the way the space in the narrow passageways was perceived.
“Our work has created depth,” says the second artist, Tomasz Kaluzka. “The corridor is now a tunnel of imagination. We painted stories full of emotion on the walls. In the Smurf village there is a frightening tree, Gargamel chasing the Smurfs, and the distinctive characters from the cartoon. It should also be added that the paints used were water-soluble dyes.”
The figures of Józef Piłsudski and Tadeusz Kościuszko on horseback, along with a historical review of soldiers from different eras, can be seen in the first-floor corridors.
“I thought for a long time about what to paint to refer to the school’s namesake,” Waldemar Cieślak explains. “Then I suddenly realized that Wojciech Kossak was the best model. His works are important to the history of Polish painting, and their subject matter best reflects important chapters of the country’s military past.”
“A connection with history is very important for children,” Markowska adds. “When, during the 20th anniversary of the school being named, we hosted veterans, it was a moving meeting. The children and former soldiers experienced many emotions: some talking about their participation in World War II, and others listening to these stories.”
Elżbieta Markowska is very pleased with the result of the painting work. “It is thoughtful, educational, cheerful and child-friendly,” the headteacher says. “And most importantly, the children decided how their school would be decorated. We plan to paint the second floor and the preschool section in the same style.”
A beautiful and colorful school is a good example for other institutions in the county. The Primary School in Tomaszów Bolesławiecki is a place that welcomes children’s imagination.
(information by Grażyna Hanaf)
