By Ossoliński National Institute
Hanna Kuś-Joachimiak
Eugeniusz Get Stankiewicz's studio known as the "Copperplate Engraver's House" (2022-09-05) by Andrzej SolnicaOssoliński National Institute
Eugeniusz Get Stankiewicz – artist from Wrocław
Get graduated from the State School of Fine Arts in Wrocław, where he spent most of his private and professional life. He was born in Ashmyany near Vilnius. The family left the town in 1945 and then settled in Wschowa. Get spent his childhood there.
The Copperplate Engraver’s House
In 1995, Get leased the “Hansel” tenement from the city and converted it into his studio. It was both a flat and a place for official and social gatherings. It also housed several imaginary institutions, including the Dwarf Museum under Construction.
Various plaques and sculptures were put up on the outside walls of the Copperplate Engraver’s House. From the church side, one version of the Do-It-Yourself bas-relief has been placed. Above the entrance is the With a Finger bas-relief. The walls bear the marks of the artist’s work, which were marked with coloured spots of paint and flake gold. They are an alternative to holes and dirt left by vandals. Get called his wall-decorating practice “colouring” and often invited friends to assist him.
Marble "Plaque in Honour of Simple Operations 1 + 1 = 2" at Jatki (2022-09-05) by Andrzej SolnicaOssoliński National Institute
Get at Jatki
In addition to his artistic activity conducted in the Copper Engraver’s House, Get produced art in the urban space. One of his first projects was The Plaque in Honour of Simple Operations 1 + 1 = 2 at Jatki.
Monument to Solidarity
2001marked the erection of the Solidarity monument, designed by Get Stankiewicz who wanted to express his thanks to “All the co-creators, defenders and heroes of Solidarity”.
A statue of the Negro on the facade of the "Gazeta Wyborcza" offices (2022-09-05) by Andrzej SolnicaOssoliński National Institute
The Negro statue on the façade of “Gazeta Wyborcza” offices on the Solny Square is of a slightly different nature. Get was neither the creator nor the originator of the idea, and lent only his likeness to make the statue. It was cast in bronze on a 1:1 scale and was authored by Stanisław Wysocki.
Cobblestone with hidden Get's self-portrait (2022-09-05) by Andrzej SolnicaOssoliński National Institute
Get and the cobblestone
One of Get’s first monuments was his portrait carved on a cobblestone which he pulled out of a street near the Market Square and put back in the same place. To this day, the location of this sculpture is unknown.
"Do it yourself (papal version)" bas-relief (2001) by Eugeniusz Get StankiewiczOssoliński National Institute
Do it yourself
The collection of the Museum of the Lubomirski Princes, in addition to Get’s prints, collages and graphic plates, holds one version of Do It Yourself (the Pope’s version) bas-relief. It has the form of a wooden box behind glass. In the lower part there is an inscription – like an instruction – “Do It Yourself”.
