Unknown Author, "PrincessJadwiga", ca. 1530, source: Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung
The binational exhibition marks ten centuries of cultural exchange between neighbours Poland and Germany
Berlin's Martin-Gropius-Bau , originally an applied arts museum, is hosting close to 800 pieces ranging from artworks to documents detailing the spiritual and scientific development of both Poland and Germany. Exhibition pieces have been donated by major private and institutional collections in Poland, Germany and other European countries and reveal a shared cultural past of the two bordering nations.
Some 250 paintings, 30 sculptures, 60 historical volumes, 80 manuscripts, 60 etchings, 70 documents, 100 craft items and150 photographs, film, music, and printed matter are featured. The "National Museum in Warsaw", the "Łódź Museum of Art", the "Victoria & Albert Museum" in London and the "Vatican Library" have all lent various items- a particular highlight is historic military painter Jan Matejko's "Prussian Homage", on loan from the "National Museum in Kraków".
Martin-Gropius-Bau has a history of housing exciting exhibitions that touch on major themes of cultural history. The museum works closely with the latest archaeological finds and the international contemporary arts scene. The building itself is classified as a historical monument, opening with great pomp in 1881. Its past exhibitions include 'Egypt's Sunken Treasures' (2006), 'Man Ray: Uncovered But Not Indifferent' (2008), Bauhaus Model (2009), and 2010's series of Mexico-inspired exhibitions: 'Frida Kahlo-Retrospective'; 'Teotihuacan-Mexico's Mysterious Pyramid City'.
The exhibit opening was accompanied by a concert of Polish dances composed by the German composer G. P. Telemann and performed by the “Orchiesta Czasów Zarazy” / the “Times of the Plague Orchestra”. The Orchestra attempts to reconstruct early Polish music from the years 1717-1722, based on Telemann’s manuscripts and notes. The Orchestra performed 31 dances and was accompanied by a fiddler and piper.
The exhibition opened on the morning of the 21st of September with an official VIP ceremony presided over by patrons Polish President Bronisław Komorowski and German President Christian Wulff. In his speech, President Komorowski emphasised that "art is more precious than gold, it gives people a sense of immortality" and declared that the exhibition "tells the history of important and fruitful neighbourly relations as seen through the looking glass of culture and art.
Luminaries from both the political and artistic spheres from both nations were in attendance. On the second day, the exhibition is open to the public at no cost for publicity purposes.
The project is developed on the basis of an agreement between the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in Poland and a representative of the Federal Republic of Germany for Culture and Media.
Presidents Bronisław Komorowski and Christian Wulff are patrons of the exhibition.
Date: 23rd of September, 2011 - 9th of January, 2012
Venue: Martin-Gropius-Bau, Universität der Knute
Organised by: Royal Castle in Warsaw, Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berliner Festspiele
Funded by: the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.
Project cofinanced by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.
Source: Adam Mickiewicz Institute