– Five artists from Poland and seven from abroad will spend time at production plants, creating sculptures or installations that express their artistic sensitivity and result from confronting the workshop available in Bolesławiec – says Joanna Opalska-Brzecka, the symposium curator.
The list of participants is already closed. It includes: Joanna Bany-Kozłowska (Poland), Doris Becker (Luxembourg), Michał Gdak (Poland), Houda Ghorbel (Tunisia), Katarzyna Miściur (Poland), Janina Myronova (Ukraine), Joanna Opalska-Brzecka (Poland), Eva Pelechova (Czech Republic), Elina Titane (Latvia), Bronisław Wolanin (Poland), Istvan Zakar (Hungary) and Elke Zauner (Austria).
– The International Ceramic and Sculpture Symposium is not only a time of hard work, however. Equally important is the idea of bringing together artists from around the world, enabling an exchange of thoughts, attitudes and opinions about their artistic field. Living together, exhibition openings and artist presentations—all of this leaves its mark on the works created during the symposium and possibly also on the artists’ later work – adds the symposium curator.
The artists will create their works at the “Artistic Ceramics” Artistic Handicraft Cooperative, the “Manufaktura” Smoleński&Zwierz Stoneware Factory and the “Bolesławiec” Ceramic Plants Ltd.
The following artists will participate in this year’s symposium:
Janina Bany-Kozłowska – a longtime designer at the “Bolesławiec” Ceramic Plants. The author of a new vision for developing patterns in Bolesławiec ceramics and, at the same time, a guardian of tradition, thanks to which the products still being created retain their original, unique character Doris Becker – a very active artist living and working in Luxembourg. A graduate of the Académie des Beaux Arts in Arlon, Belgium. She has participated in numerous group exhibitions throughout Europe, as well as symposia and competitions. Her work is inspired by observations of nature, especially the structures of the earth. She says that “natural textures are like paintings created and then transformed by nature and time” Michał Gdak – a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at Wrocław University of Technology and the Faculty of Sculpture at the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław; he also studied at Universidad Politecnica de Valencia and Delft University of Technology. A multidisciplinary artist whose work combines numerous issues at the intersection of sculpture, design, architecture and sociology. A participant in sculpture and architecture competitions and many international exhibitions; in 2010, he received a scholarship from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Houda Ghorbel – an artist living in Tunisia and a doctoral student at the Institute Superior des Beaux-Arts in Tunis. She creates sensitive ceramic installations using both figurative motifs and recycling in design Katarzyna Miściur – this year’s graduate of the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław. A young, ambitious and hardworking artist who, despite her young age, has already developed an individual artistic language. Participation in the Bolesławiec symposium is a major opportunity for her to confront more experienced artists and a first serious step toward artistic independence Janina Myronova – a graduate of the Faculty of Ceramics at the Lviv National Academy of Fine Arts who, during a short scholarship in Wrocław, fell in love with Poland and decided to return here to repeat her education, in a sense, at the Wrocław Academy of Art and Design. She paints, creates unique ceramics and designs; in all these areas of artistic activity, she maintains a highly individual, coherent and recognizable style combining ethnographic elements with contemporary aesthetics Joanna Opalska-Brzecka (symposium curator) – a graduate of the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław, where she works as an assistant in the Unique Ceramics Studio. For her, ceramics is both an excellent sculptural material and a medium in which she works as a designer. She is interested in playing with stereotypes, associations and habits Eva Pelechova – a graduate of the Academy of Arts Architecture and Design in Prague. A representative of the young generation of artists seeking answers to various questions through the art of matter. A conceptual artist who cares about craftsmanship and is sensitive to the beauty of ceramics Elina Titane – a graduate of the Latvian Academy of Art in Riga. The author of beautiful organic clay sculptures that captivate with their intricacy, quality of execution and nature-inspired detail. The author of numerous solo exhibitions in Riga and a participant in international exhibitions Bronisław Wolanin – one of the best-known and most highly regarded ceramic artists in Bolesławiec. Artistic director and chief designer of the “Artistic Ceramics” Artistic Handicraft Cooperative. One of the creators of the contemporary style of Bolesławiec stoneware, he has introduced new shapes, glazes and decorations into production for many years. The author of and participant in numerous exhibitions in Poland and abroad Istvan Zakar – a graduate of Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Budapest. A participant in exhibitions and symposia. The owner of a ceramic studio in the Hungarian capital, where he creates unique ceramics and architectural elements.
(information: BOK-MCC/ii)