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ABOUT CULTURE - 07.2008
Fragile beauty, the Chinese way
The Asia and Pacific Museum in Warsaw invites you to see ‘Kruche piękno’ (‘Fragile beauty’), an exhibit of Chinese paintings on glass, an art which experienced its zenith in China at the beginning of the 18th century. Canton was the main center of this type of painting. In the beginning, the most common motifs in Chinese glass paintings were subjects associated with European culture; later, Chinese themes emerged ‘ mythological scenes, portraits, and landscapes. On the basis of numerous portraits of women, we can follow changes in fashion and the growing emancipation of Chinese ladies. These paintings also have great artistic value, which we recommend seeing in person at the Asia Gallery at the Asia and Pacific Museum, at 5 Freta Street.
Attractions of Nero’s Golden House
Before the 13th of July, you can still see the interesting exhibit ‘Nero’s Golden House’ at Warsaw’s National Museum. It presents colorful watercolor paintings of the Roman residence of Nero, by Polish painter Franciszek Smuglewicz. The exhibition has been organized on the occasion of the 200 year anniversary of the death of this artist, who was the most outstanding Polish painter of the 18th century. ‘Nero’s Golden House’ is a unique collection of 60 diagrams showing the interior of the Roman Caesar’s palace, discovered in 1774. Only six sets of these plans have survived to the present day. They can be found in the Parisian Louvre and at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. They are being presented in Warsaw for the first time since their creation more than 230 years ago.
The success of Uklański in New York
‘ It is worth being involved with national art, because everyone thinks that it is dead ‘ claims Piotr Uklański, whose latest exhibit ‘Biało-Czerwona’ (‘White-Red’) has been a great success in New York. More precisely, at the Gagosian Gallery. This exhibit can be interpreted as a certain form of artistic provocation, which is no stranger to an atmosphere of mystification and scandal. Piotr Uklański, a graduate of Warsaw’s Academy of Fine Arts, is 40 years old and has lived in New York for the last 17 years. He is one of the most acclaimed and best selling Polish artists in the world. His ‘Nazis’ sold at the New York Philips de Pury auction house for 1.1 million dollars, and works from ‘Biało-Czerwona’ were appraised at 250,000-700,000 dollars.
Awards for Shakespeare
The show ‘Burza’ (‘The Tempest’) at Teatr Nowy (New Theater) in Poznań, directed by Janusz Wiúniewski, received the Złoty Yorick award, given by the organizers of the International Shakespeare Festival for the best Polish staging of Shakespearean drama. In addition to the Złoty Yorick, the organizers also distinguished ‘Hamlet’ by Teatr Polski in Wrocław and gave two honorable mentions, to ‘The Merchant of Venice’ from Teatr Współczesny in Wrocław, and to Ireneusz Czopa for the title role in the play ‘Macbeth’, staged by Teatr im. Jaracza in £ódü. Both ‘Burza’ directed by Wiúniewski and ‘Hamlet’ from Wrocław will be shown at this year’s Shakespeare Festival, which will take place in Gdańsk, where there was an Elizabethan-style theater, centuries ago.
A new project for the Oscar winners
The British-Polish artists who were awarded an Oscar for their animated production of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ are planning another cooperative film. It will be a story about a boy who is talented in music and dance, and will take place in Poland. The music of Frederic Chopin will be used in the movie. This time, it will be a full-length film, which will be ready in 2010. Right now, the theatric version of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ is being created, with scenography done by Polish artists from the Se-ma-for Studio in £ódü, and it will be presented at London’s Royal Albert Hall (in December) and at Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles (at the end of September).
Nick Nolte in a Polish film
The famous American actor Nick Nolte will play the lead role in a new film by the Polish director Krzysztof Krauze, who is well known for films like ‘Dług’ and ‘Plac Zbawiciela’, among others. Nolte will appear in the movie ‘Ptaki úpiewajπ w Kigali’ (‘Birds sing in Kigala’). It is the story of an ornithologist who saved a girl from the Tutsi tribe in 1994, at the times of ethnic cleansing in Rwanda. The screenplay is based on a novel by Wojciech Albiński, a Polish writer who lives in South Africa. The actor is all the more interested in the role because he also acted in the film ‘Hotel Rwanda’. Preparations for the film will begin in the fall.
I have already said everything in my life
The outstanding Polish poetess and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Wisława Szymborska, was awarded the order of Gloria Artis, which is given by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage to people who have rendered great service to the propagation of Polish culture in the world. Among the people given this distinction, which has been awarded since 2005, there are both foreigners and Poles. The great poetess, known for her modesty and shyness, does not like it when ceremonies are organized to honor her; she avoids contact with the media. Upon receiving the award, when asked to comment, she only said, ‘I have already said every word in my life’, and she got into a taxi and drove away.
A doctorate for Spielberg
Steven Spielberg will receive an honorary doctorate degree from Jagiellonian University in Cracow. This institution, one of the oldest universities in the world (established in the mid-14th century), would like to honor this outstanding director, creator of ‘Schindler’s List’ (which was made in Cracow), among other films, for his ‘art, as well as the references to tradition and essential humanistic values which are visible in his films’. Spielberg is also distinguished for strengthening the memory of the Holocaust. The university in Cracow has given honorary doctorates since 1816. Among those who have been awarded are John Paul II, Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Karol Szymanowski, Andrzej Wajda, Szymon Wiesenthal, and Mother Theresa of Calcutta.
Detroiter Performs Concert of American Organ Music
Holy Cross Basilica, ul. Krakowskie Przedmieúcie 3, is the venue for a recital of organ works written by American composers and performed by organist Norah Duncan IV. The concert, which is free of charge, begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 10.
Currently an Associate Professor of Music at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mr. Duncan was for over a quarter of a century the organist at that city’s Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Cathedral, holding that post under cardinals John Francis Dearden, Edward Szoka and Adam Maida.
The all-American program features organ music written in the United States of America during its entire 232-year history, starting with William Selby, a composer dating from the American Revolutionary War (Fugue in D Major) and reaching to contemporary composer Ralph Simpson (Jacob’s Ladder). Among the many others composers included in the program, we also find one of Polish-American descent, the late Thomas M. Kuras. Also a Detroiter, he is represented by his chorale prelude on the Sicilian Marian hymn, O Sanctissima.
Norah Duncan is the recipient of many awards, both secular and religious acknowledgements of his high musical achievements and outstanding service to both Church and city. An alumnus of Wayne State University, he is also a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music in Ann Arbor. He prides himself in having been the music director for the papal mass during the visit of Pope John Paul II to Detroit in 1987.
The main sponsor for this musical event is the American Embassy in Warsaw. Additional sponsors include Welcome to Warsaw, BATIDA, and the Kosciuszko Foundation, Inc.
For more information: (22) 621-7067
The Asia and Pacific Museum in Warsaw invites you to see ‘Kruche piękno’ (‘Fragile beauty’), an exhibit of Chinese paintings on glass, an art which experienced its zenith in China at the beginning of the 18th century. Canton was the main center of this type of painting. In the beginning, the most common motifs in Chinese glass paintings were subjects associated with European culture; later, Chinese themes emerged ‘ mythological scenes, portraits, and landscapes. On the basis of numerous portraits of women, we can follow changes in fashion and the growing emancipation of Chinese ladies. These paintings also have great artistic value, which we recommend seeing in person at the Asia Gallery at the Asia and Pacific Museum, at 5 Freta Street.
Attractions of Nero’s Golden House
Before the 13th of July, you can still see the interesting exhibit ‘Nero’s Golden House’ at Warsaw’s National Museum. It presents colorful watercolor paintings of the Roman residence of Nero, by Polish painter Franciszek Smuglewicz. The exhibition has been organized on the occasion of the 200 year anniversary of the death of this artist, who was the most outstanding Polish painter of the 18th century. ‘Nero’s Golden House’ is a unique collection of 60 diagrams showing the interior of the Roman Caesar’s palace, discovered in 1774. Only six sets of these plans have survived to the present day. They can be found in the Parisian Louvre and at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. They are being presented in Warsaw for the first time since their creation more than 230 years ago.
The success of Uklański in New York
‘ It is worth being involved with national art, because everyone thinks that it is dead ‘ claims Piotr Uklański, whose latest exhibit ‘Biało-Czerwona’ (‘White-Red’) has been a great success in New York. More precisely, at the Gagosian Gallery. This exhibit can be interpreted as a certain form of artistic provocation, which is no stranger to an atmosphere of mystification and scandal. Piotr Uklański, a graduate of Warsaw’s Academy of Fine Arts, is 40 years old and has lived in New York for the last 17 years. He is one of the most acclaimed and best selling Polish artists in the world. His ‘Nazis’ sold at the New York Philips de Pury auction house for 1.1 million dollars, and works from ‘Biało-Czerwona’ were appraised at 250,000-700,000 dollars.
Awards for Shakespeare
The show ‘Burza’ (‘The Tempest’) at Teatr Nowy (New Theater) in Poznań, directed by Janusz Wiúniewski, received the Złoty Yorick award, given by the organizers of the International Shakespeare Festival for the best Polish staging of Shakespearean drama. In addition to the Złoty Yorick, the organizers also distinguished ‘Hamlet’ by Teatr Polski in Wrocław and gave two honorable mentions, to ‘The Merchant of Venice’ from Teatr Współczesny in Wrocław, and to Ireneusz Czopa for the title role in the play ‘Macbeth’, staged by Teatr im. Jaracza in £ódü. Both ‘Burza’ directed by Wiúniewski and ‘Hamlet’ from Wrocław will be shown at this year’s Shakespeare Festival, which will take place in Gdańsk, where there was an Elizabethan-style theater, centuries ago.
A new project for the Oscar winners
The British-Polish artists who were awarded an Oscar for their animated production of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ are planning another cooperative film. It will be a story about a boy who is talented in music and dance, and will take place in Poland. The music of Frederic Chopin will be used in the movie. This time, it will be a full-length film, which will be ready in 2010. Right now, the theatric version of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ is being created, with scenography done by Polish artists from the Se-ma-for Studio in £ódü, and it will be presented at London’s Royal Albert Hall (in December) and at Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles (at the end of September).
Nick Nolte in a Polish film
The famous American actor Nick Nolte will play the lead role in a new film by the Polish director Krzysztof Krauze, who is well known for films like ‘Dług’ and ‘Plac Zbawiciela’, among others. Nolte will appear in the movie ‘Ptaki úpiewajπ w Kigali’ (‘Birds sing in Kigala’). It is the story of an ornithologist who saved a girl from the Tutsi tribe in 1994, at the times of ethnic cleansing in Rwanda. The screenplay is based on a novel by Wojciech Albiński, a Polish writer who lives in South Africa. The actor is all the more interested in the role because he also acted in the film ‘Hotel Rwanda’. Preparations for the film will begin in the fall.
I have already said everything in my life
The outstanding Polish poetess and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Wisława Szymborska, was awarded the order of Gloria Artis, which is given by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage to people who have rendered great service to the propagation of Polish culture in the world. Among the people given this distinction, which has been awarded since 2005, there are both foreigners and Poles. The great poetess, known for her modesty and shyness, does not like it when ceremonies are organized to honor her; she avoids contact with the media. Upon receiving the award, when asked to comment, she only said, ‘I have already said every word in my life’, and she got into a taxi and drove away.
A doctorate for Spielberg
Steven Spielberg will receive an honorary doctorate degree from Jagiellonian University in Cracow. This institution, one of the oldest universities in the world (established in the mid-14th century), would like to honor this outstanding director, creator of ‘Schindler’s List’ (which was made in Cracow), among other films, for his ‘art, as well as the references to tradition and essential humanistic values which are visible in his films’. Spielberg is also distinguished for strengthening the memory of the Holocaust. The university in Cracow has given honorary doctorates since 1816. Among those who have been awarded are John Paul II, Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Karol Szymanowski, Andrzej Wajda, Szymon Wiesenthal, and Mother Theresa of Calcutta.
Detroiter Performs Concert of American Organ Music
Holy Cross Basilica, ul. Krakowskie Przedmieúcie 3, is the venue for a recital of organ works written by American composers and performed by organist Norah Duncan IV. The concert, which is free of charge, begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 10.
Currently an Associate Professor of Music at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mr. Duncan was for over a quarter of a century the organist at that city’s Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Cathedral, holding that post under cardinals John Francis Dearden, Edward Szoka and Adam Maida.
The all-American program features organ music written in the United States of America during its entire 232-year history, starting with William Selby, a composer dating from the American Revolutionary War (Fugue in D Major) and reaching to contemporary composer Ralph Simpson (Jacob’s Ladder). Among the many others composers included in the program, we also find one of Polish-American descent, the late Thomas M. Kuras. Also a Detroiter, he is represented by his chorale prelude on the Sicilian Marian hymn, O Sanctissima.
Norah Duncan is the recipient of many awards, both secular and religious acknowledgements of his high musical achievements and outstanding service to both Church and city. An alumnus of Wayne State University, he is also a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music in Ann Arbor. He prides himself in having been the music director for the papal mass during the visit of Pope John Paul II to Detroit in 1987.
The main sponsor for this musical event is the American Embassy in Warsaw. Additional sponsors include Welcome to Warsaw, BATIDA, and the Kosciuszko Foundation, Inc.
For more information: (22) 621-7067
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Information published at 6 July 2008
