XX + XXI. Sculpture

In June, “XX + XXI. Gallery of Polish Art” will expand to include a space dedicated to sculpture from the mid-20th century to the present day. This is the last room in the visiting order, which complements the sculpture gallery of the early 20th century, arranged in the hall of the second floor, and thus ties together the multi-threaded history of modern Polish sculpture into a cohesive whole.

The groundbreaking nature of 20th-century sculpture is particularly evident in its second half. The increasing importance of the concept of space then led to a rapid departure from figurative sculpture towards experimental forms: installations and environments. Although the figure ceased to be the exclusive synonym of sculpture, it still constitutes an important thread of creative exploration: subjected to transformations, deformed – it illustrates the tension between academic tradition and avant-garde tendencies, becoming a carrier of new meanings. The 20th and 21st centuries in sculpture also mean a multitude of previously unused materials and a fresh look at traditional materials.

The limited exhibition space dictated a synthetic presentation of sculptural works, which are linked by several thematic threads reflected in the content, as well as in the form of the exhibited works.

The themes of corporeality and the body as a symbol, the motif of memory, and the broadly understood constructive trend – all permeate the idea of space and spatiality.

The exhibition presents both canonical and non-obvious works by famous sculptors, as well as works by artists unjustly forgotten or insufficiently present in the discourse of modern art. The selection and arrangement of works encourage a rediscovery of modern Polish sculpture.

Curator: Agata Małodobry Coordinator: Katarzyna Stolarz Arrangement Designers: Wzorro Design

The exhibition “XX + XXI. Sculpture” was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Amount of co-financing: 171,500 PLN Total cost of the task: 186,842.03 PLN