Opening of the exhibition of ceramic sculptures “Garden” Krystyna Gay-Kutschenreiter and the series of photographs “Photographic Impressions” Janusz Moniatowicz took place on Saturday, July 13, at the Muzeum Ceramiki (Department of the History of the City, Kutuzowa Street). “This exhibition presents the works of two extraordinary individuals,” says Anna Bober-Tubaj, director of the Museum of Ceramics. – During preparations for the exhibition of Ms Krystyna Gay-Kutschenreiter’s works, the idea arose that the display should be accompanied by photographs by Mr Janusz Moniatowicz. These are magical photographs, capturing the atmosphere and extraordinary nature of the creative process of the Bolesławiec artist.
– I took my first professional photographs right here at the Museum of Ceramics. Since then, photographing ceramic works has been a constant theme in my professional life – emphasizes Janusz Moniatowicz. – I love photographing everything connected with ceramics: both the process of its creation and simply spending time with artists, discovering their worlds.
Gallery (6)
Show remaining photos (3)
The series of ceramic sculptures “Garden,” as Krystyna Gay-Kutschenreiter explained, was initially scheduled to debut at an exhibition in the Natural History Museum in Cieplice. However, it turned out that Anna Bober-Tubaj proposed an earlier date. “The emotions accompanying the exhibition are the same everywhere; every artist has to reveal their inner self, confess. Convey their very personal experiences,” the artist states. “Every exhibition is a tearing away of my intimacy. And there is always fear about whether my emotions will be well received.”
During the opening, Krystyna Gay-Kutchenreiter presented Anna Bober-Tubaj with a medal for a woman who has made outstanding contributions to Bolesławiec culture, and Janusz Moniatowicz with a ceramic master’s ring. The exhibition can be viewed until the end of August.
Krystyna Gay-Kutschenreiter, born in Łódź, studied at the Faculty of Art of the University in Toruń and at the Faculty of Ceramics of the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław, where she obtained her diploma in the studio of Prof. Rudolf Krzywiec. In addition to ceramic sculpture, she also works in unique ceramics. She has lived and worked in Bolesławiec for many years, where she was involved in training personnel for the ceramics industry, and from 1990 to 2005 served as the artistic commissioner of the annual Polish and International Ceramic-Sculpture Open-Air Workshops.
She has had a dozen or so solo exhibitions and participated in several dozen group exhibitions in Poland and abroad. In addition to the Bolesławiec museum, her works are held in the collections of the National Museum in Wrocław, the National Museum in Poznań, the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, BWA Jelenia Góra, Kunstforum Piaristen in Vienna, and many private collections.
Janusz Moniatowicz, a native of Bolesławiec, is a graduate of the Polish National Film, Television and Theatre School in Łódź and the FAMU Film Academy in Prague, where he completed the Artistic Photography Department under Professor Jan Šmok. Although he currently lives in Jelenia Góra, he still feels strongly connected to our city. Since January 2007, he has headed the Karkonosze Branch of the Association of Polish Art Photographers.
His photographs have been presented at numerous solo and group exhibitions, winning numerous awards. Works by him can be found, among others, in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, UMPRUM Museum in Prague, the Spisz Museum in Levoča, the Artists’ Gallery in Spišská Nová Ves, the Museum of Ceramics in Bolesławiec, the Karkonosze Museum in Jelenia Góra, BWA in Jelenia Góra, and numerous private collections. For many years, his photographs have also been published in numerous publications and albums.
(information: Museum of Ceramics/GA)