The work of artists who developed their workshop outside institutional circulation recently experiences a real renaissance. Fashion designers consciously reach for traditions in collections. The figure of Gaia, a motive close to one of the most famous naive painters, Erwin Sówka, even became an inspiration to create a song that will present Poles at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel. Now the work of folk and naive artists for the first time in the history of functioning, introduces the auction house of Desa Unicum. At the cross -sectional exhibition “Naive and folk art. In the circle of tradition ”presents over 100 objects: canvas, drawings and sculptures, artists such as Nikifor, Erwin Sówka, Maria Korsak, Jan Płaskociński and Eugeniusz Zegadło.
Naive art – insight into the microcosm of the creators
Naive art is an extremely capacious concept of creativity that does not fit in the mainstles. The subjective perspective, focus on details, references to symbolism are just a few features that describe the works of artists without formal artistic education. Their work often illustrates scenes from everyday life. It also has one unique property – it enables insight into the perception of reality by its creators. One of the most recognizable figures of the Polish naive scene is “Krynicki Matejko”, Epipaniusz Drowniak, known as Nikifor. It is not without reason that we know his art, above all, from small formats. His initial sketches were created on random fragments of the obtained paper: used notebooks, cartons and packaging. As many as 10 Nikifor’s works were at the exhibition at Des Unicum, both illustrating architecture and the performances of saints.
The patron of miners meets Venus from Willendorf – in the circle of Janowska Group
Artists without diplomas often got to know each other in amateur plastic wheels operating at workplaces. The Janowska Group remains a real phenomenon – the Association of Amateur Painters from Janów Śląski, established in 1946, officially known under the name “Circle of Unprofessional Painters”. One of its numerous members, Erwin Sówka, born in Giszowiec, a self -taught painter and miner Wieczorek is one of the most fascinating artists of the unprofessional trend. He set his interests in the culture of the ancient East and “secret knowledge” in Silesian realities – on the canvases of the owl, the patron of miners, Barbara, meets with Iztar and Venus from Willendorf. The works presented in Desa Unicum: “Meditation”, “Gaja” and “Medium II” invite the viewer to the artist’s imagination and reading complex, mythical performances.
Maria Korsak – emancipation by art
As in the case of owl, the source of naive creativity is often the artist’s rich personality, which he poured into paper or canvas using intuitive brush strokes. Motivations to take a creative path are also particularly interesting. The path of one of the most recognizable and appreciated painters, Maria Korsak, began in the Vilnius region with living weaving in looms. Her first meeting with art took place only at the age of 50, during the planned visit to the office in Moscow. She then came to the museum, where she was to lose her sense of time and be late to complement the formalities about repatriation to Poland. When, inspired by classics, she decided to paint, she used primitive brushes based on the villi of her own hair. Korsak, in 1959, after moving to Warsaw, she enrolled in the artistic fire in Śródmieście. She developed her own style, painted capital parks with forever blue sky and elegantly dressed characters. The idealized world was a safe space that protects against the hardships of post -war everyday life. The person who did not see the potential of her work was, however, the husband. He was supposed to get furious and put images to the balcony during the rain. Although he changed his attitude, when his wife gained recognition, the painting allowed Korsak to stay independently. Her works began to sell and soon, in 1963, they had an exhibition at Miami of Modern Art in 1963.
Folk art – what can we find at the exhibition?
Naive and folk art penetrate each other, combining common features and creators. One of the interesting stories is the Zegadłów family behind the family. Adam, a sculptor, began an adventure with folk art at the age of only 13, wanting to improve the material situation after the death of his father. Making simple furniture, equipment and toys, however, gave rise to his work. The first facilities were bought for the collections of the Świętokrzyskie Museum in Kielce and 1964. They were shown at the exhibition of contemporary folk art, so that a year later they would go to Warsaw’s Zachęta. The exhibition “Others” brought high recognition and made famous at today’s Slovakia, Germany or Switzerland. His son, Henry, already raised in the artist’s family, took up the institutional path: he studied painting at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, and his sculptures were regularly presented at exhibitions. He created paintings on glass and sacred sculptures inspired by folk art. The largest collection of his works is located at the National Museum in Kielce. Now numerous family works: Adam and Henryk and Eugeniusz, his sons, can also be found at the exhibition at DESA Unicum.
These and many other of the over 100 facilities can be seen until March 11 at the exhibition “Naive and folk art. In the circle of tradition ”in Desa Unicum at ul. Piękna 1a. Free admission.
