Gombrowicz Museum to Open in France

small, Gombrowicz Museum to Open in France, Witold Gombrowicz, Vence, photo: Bohdan Paczowski, 4923088.jpg

A museum dedicated to the life and work of Witold Gombrowicz will be opened at the Villa Alexandrine in Vence, a town near Nice, where the writer spent the last years of his life.

The document inaugurating the process of building the museum was signed in Warsaw by Deputy Culture and National Heritage Minister Jarosław Sellin and the Mayor of Vence, Loic Dombreval.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Poland will co-operate in the renovations of the space for the museum, preparation of the exhibition and the organisation of cultural events. This task will be executed by the Society of Friends of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw (editor’s translation), the National Institute for Museums and Public Collections and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. The Ministry’s website states:

The Museum of Witold Gombrowicz is an important initiative, which will make it possible for locals and tourists in Vence to learn about the Polish writer and his most famous works.

Witold Gombrowicz i Konstanty Jeleński, Vence, fot. Bohdan Paczowski — Witold Gombrowicz and Konstanty Jeleński, Vence, photo: Bohdan Paczowski

The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage assured that the French are already conducting necessary renovations of the entire Villa Alexandrine building, which will house not only the museum, but also a observation deck and a conference hall. The Ministry emphasizes that:

Thanks to [the museum], Villa Alexandrine will become an important tourist attraction and part of France’s cultural map. It will draw many visitors and at the same time will become a place for the promotion of Polish culture.

Witold Gombrowicz passed away in 1969 in Vence at the age of 65. He was one of the most prominent Polish writers of the 20^th century. His works are still being translated into over 30 languages. His best works include: Diaries, Ferdydurke, Pornography, Cosmos and Yvona, Princess of Burgundia. Many of his works were not fully appreciated until after his death.

The Adam Mickiewicz Institute will support the creation the museum.

Sources: PAP, own materials; originally written by: AJS, 8 Feb 2017, translated by WF, 10 Feb 2017.

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