The Main Square of Krakow as Seen by Edward Dwurnik
Edward Dwurnik was a contemporary artist who lived from 1943 to 2018. He gained fame by painting urban landscapes, shown from a bird's-eye view.
Main Square in Krakow (2010/2011) by Ewdard DwurnikInternational Cultural Centre
Hitchhiking Travels inspired by Nikifor
Edward Dwurnik's urban landscapes belong to the Hitchhiking Travels ("Podróże autostopem") painting series that was started in the 1960s. This series was inspired by the works of Nikifor, a Lemko naïve painter. Edward Dwurnik emulates the method of depicting architectural items and the kind of perspective used by Nikifor.
"The Main Square of Krakow"
The panoramic room in Kraków's International Cultural Center houses a painting by Edward Dwurnik named The Main Square of Krakow, produced in 2010–2011. In the painting, we can see the Cloth Hall ("Sukiennice") and the St. Mary Church, as well as the building where the International Cultural Centre is located.
Artistic society of Krakow
The most important people in the painting have been labeled by the artist with their names. They include artists, poets, and other people from the Kraków artistic milieu. For example, the painting shows five modern artists: Jerzy Bereś, Tadeusz Kantor, Igor Mitoraj, Jerzy Nowosielski, and Stanisław Rodziński. Let's take a closer look.
Jerzy Bereś (1930–2012)
Just outside the Church of St. Mary is Jerzy Bereś (1930–2012), working on one of his sculptures. This artist used mostly natural materials, with wood being his favorite. Although simple in form, the works are elaborate comments on social and political reality. Bereś used previously prepared sculptures in artistic performances, often dubbed "manifestations", held in public spaces. The artist's body was an essential part of such performances, becoming a subject of the art in
Just outside the Church of St. Mary is Jerzy Bereś (1930–2012), working on one of his sculptures. This artist used mostly natural materials, with wood being his favorite. Although simple in form, the works are elaborate comments on social and political reality. Bereś used previously prepared sculptures in artistic performances, often dubbed "manifestations", held in public spaces. The artist's body was an essential part of such performances, becoming a subject of the art in
The artist's body was an essential part of such performances, becoming a subject of the art in the process.
Tadeusz Kantor (1915-1990)
Dwurnik placed Tadeusz Kantor next to one of his sculptures–The Chair (Krzesło), which Kantor designed for the 1970 Wrocław Arts Symposium. Since 2011, it has been on display in Wrocław. It was made after the artist's death, in accordance with the original design.
The Chair by Tadeusz Kantor
This grand concrete chair was meant as an "impossible monument", without any aesthetic value and dedicated to an item of everyday use.
Kantor was theatre director, painter, draughtsman, art theoretician, stage designer, author of happenings and a renowned 20th. century theatre reformer.
Main Square of Krakow - view from the Mariacki Church Tower (2022) by Michał SiarekInternational Cultural Centre
Krzusztofory
The Krzysztofory Gallery (Galeria Krzysztofory) was Kantor's initiative.
Main Square in Krakow (2010/2011) by Ewdard DwurnikInternational Cultural Centre
Igor Mitoraj (1944-2014)
Igor Mitoraj is portrayed as a street musician. He was a sculptor who spent most of his life in Western Europe.
Main Square of Krakow view (2022) by Michał SiarekInternational Cultural Centre
„Eros Bendato”
One of his works became a focal point of the Main Square in Kraków. It is "Eros Bendato" – a gigantic head with hollow eye-sockets, restrained with straps.
It is commonly interpreted as a symbol of being enslaved by love.
Mitoraj was often influenced by classical works, but made them look more modern. A distinct part of his work is the mouth, always in the same shape, modeled on the mouth of the artist himself.
Main Square in Krakow (2010/2011) by Ewdard DwurnikInternational Cultural Centre
Jerzy Nowosielski (1923-2011)
In Dwurnik's painting, Jerzy Nowosielski is feeding birds. He is a famous contemporary icon painter. His works on religious topics features distinct contours and brilliant colors. He simplified the form, sometimes turning it into abstraction.
Women are an important theme in his art, and are frequently sacralized. He created many memorable works for both Western and Eastern rite churches.
Stanisław Rodziński (1940–2021)
Stanisław Rodziński, leaning over a palette, was a painter and an art critic. In his work, Rodziński reflected the aesthetics of the Polish Colorists. He was mostly interested in landscapes and religious themes. Traditional Christian iconography was a frequent inspiration. Although he is depicted standing by the easel at the Main Square in Kraków, his landscapes derived from the region of Nowy Sącz.
The Main Square of Kraków painting is not short of humor. Edward Dwurnik created images of all characters, both real and fictional, that in his opinion comprised the portrait of Kraków. That is why he could not omit the legendary characters: the Wawel Dragon and the lamb.
