Zachęta – National Gallery of Art

curator: Anna Maria Leśniewska
collaboration on the part of Zachęta: Julia Leopold
exhibition design: Robert Rumas

Magdalena Więcek’s exhibition is another monographic presentation of works by a Polish 20th century sculptor at the Zachęta. Exhibitions by artists such as Alina Szapocznikow, Alina Ślesińska or Barbara Zbrożyna show the importance of their explorations and the universality of their endeavours, but also the process of building the creative independence of women, something that Magdalena Więcek’s art (1924–2008) also fits into. On the one hand, this independence stems from the experience of an entire generation creating after the period of socialist realism, and on the other it is an important element of the artistic achievements of the women of this generation.

Więcek’s important works from the 1960s include massive forms, monuments to the power of nature, close to living organisms. She worked with various materials, often combining metal, concrete and stone. In contrast to these materials, she created forms suggestive of movement that seem almost to be floating in the air. With works created during the two editions of the Biennale of Spatial Forms in Elbląg (1965 and 1967), the artist set a new place for sculpture in the urban space, emphasizing spatial relationships with the environment. The monumental character of Magdalena Więcek’s works is particularly evident in the pieces from the 1970s series Sacrum, reminiscent of religious architecture. In her works from the 1980s and 1990s, she revealed the beauty of steel, aluminium and bronze.

The exhibition presents sculptures and models of spatial installations. In addition, we show an extensive selection of her drawings, sketches, and lithographs. An integral part of the exhibition is formed by large-format photographs by Magdalena Więcek and Marek Holzman, who conducted some kind of ‘photographic interviews’ with the sculptor’s works. This constitutes an integral part of the exhibition. ‘Reconstructed’ in the audio-visual form, the installation Infinity — originally presented at Warsaw’s Zapiecek Gallery in 1979 — is an important element of the exhibition. Apart from Więcek’s works, there are two paintings by Stefan Gierowski — a reference to the joint exhibitions of both artists. The visual material is complemented by a selection of quotes with ‘period’ comments on Więcek’s works, while the catalogue accompanying the exhibition includes texts showing the artist’s achievements from the contemporary perspective.

In homage to Magdalena Więcek, Wojciech Fangor designed the exhibition poster in 2015.