The illustrations presented in the exhibition come from Captains of Illustration: 100 Years of Children’s Books from Poland. This rich visual essay takes the reader on a journey through artistic techniques, cultural trends and important Polish art figures presented in 100 entries. It features over 800 illustrations by over 200 Polish artists. The beautiful images are supplemented with texts by prominent scholars and enthusiasts of Polish children’s book design. The all-encompassing historical publication has been created in cooperation with the popular, award-winning publisher Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry.
The works of Janusz Towpik, Bożena Truchanowska, Wiesław Majchrzak, Zbigniew Rychlicki, Adam Kilian and Andrzej Strumiłło, from Polish school of illustration, were selected by Dr. Jacek Friedrich. The curator of the exhibition, an expert and collector of Polish historical illustration, says: In Poland in the 1960s and 70s the pictures were excellent! Those days, which have been dubbed the golden age of Polish illustration, saw the activity of dozens of very talented designers. From this wealth we have chosen just six outstanding artists whose works, we hope, are representative of the high artistic quality of Polish illustration in those times.
The contemporary generation is represented by Jan Bajtlik, Monika Hanulak, Marianna Oklejak, Ola Cieślak, Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielińscy, and Piotr Socha. For many years Polish book illustration had been in a state of profound crisis, first precipitated by the collapse of the communist economy and then by the invasion of trashy books that flooded Poland in the wake of the free-market revolution. Luckily, the situation has changed for the better over the last two decades. Small, independent publishing houses have sprung up, in many cases headed by courageous women braving the vicissitudes of a difficult market. Along with them has come a generation of young, talented artists who are successfully continuing the great tradition of the Polish school of illustration - adds Dr. Friedrich.
The exhibition will also provide the opportunity to see the books illustrated by those great artists and featured in Captains of Illustration, as well as the publications of Adam Mickiewicz Institute, dedicated to unique Polish cultural phenomena, especially in the field of Polish design.
The exibition is organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute as part of the international cultural programme marking the centenary of Poland’s regained independence. It is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.
The all-encompassing historical publication has been created in cooperation with the popular, award-winning publisher Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry and was financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland as part of the multi-annual programme NIEPODLEGŁA 2017-2022.
Illustrators:
Adam Kilian
Wiesław Majchrzak
Zbigniew Rychlicki
Andrzej Strumiłło
Janusz Towpik
Bożena Truchanowska
Jan Bajtlik
Ola Cieślak
Monika Hanulak
Aleksandra i Daniel Mizielińscy
Marianna Oklejak
Piotr Socha
The Captains of Illustration from Poland
Taipei International Book Exhibition
31.01-5.02.2023
The Adam Mickiewicz Institute actively releases publications dedicated to unique Polish cultural phenomena, especially in the field of Polish design (eg. Very Graphic, Out of the Ordinary, The ABCs of Polish Design, Polish Design: Uncut), avant-garde art, and experimental electronic music ("Unsound"). If you fancy a more accessible read, check out Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi: Poland in 100 Words – filled to the brim with illustrations by Magdalena Burdzyńska, this award-winning book written by Culture.pl's English section has been described as 'a stunning combination of content and design' by famed language expert David Crystal.
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The Captains of Illustration from Poland exhibition, prepared by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute in cooperation with the curator, Dr. Jacek Friedrich, presents a wide selection of illustrations from the publication of the same title, as well as works by Polish contemporary artists and illustrators. It is organised and produced in collaboration with the Book Institute, as Poland will be the guest of honor at this year's edition of the Taipei International Book Exhibition, staring on January 31st 2023.