To mark the 80th birthday of Jerzy Skolimowski, the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera will showcase a selection of paintings and graphic designs created by the Master over the 40 years of his career.
Jerzy Skolimowski is a Polish film director and painter. He has directed more than 20 movies, including Start (The Departure; Golden Bear, 1967 Berlin International Film Festival), Krzyk (The Shout; Special Jury Prize, 1978 Cannes Film Festival), Fucha (Moonlighting; Best Screenplay, 1982 Cannes Film Festival), Latarniowiec (The Lightship; Best Director, 1985 Venice Film Festival), Cztery noce z Anną (Four Nights with Anna; acclaimed at Cannes in 2008), Essential Killing (Special Jury Prize, 2010 Venice Film Festival; Best Film, Mar del Plata International Film Festival; Best Film and Best Actor, Gdynia Film Festival). His paintings have been shown across Europe, the Venice Biennale, and the USA. In 2015 he received a honorary doctorate from the Academy of Fine Arts, Łódź, Poland.
’Jerzy Skolimowski’s large format works, his sensual manner of painting, the way he records the passing moment having deeply reflected on it – all of this fills me with great admiration. His abstraction that does not reduce reality to geometry, but is open both to figurative traditions and the secret world of Oriental art, which is an impressive achievement at a time when most strive for fast results and instant, if fleeting, recognition. Jerzy Skolimowski paints calmly, in harmony with his world and himself. His large panel paintings make the impression of things created with oneself in mind. Perhaps, that is why they have so much power over me – I need this kind of painting desperately.’
Andrzej Wajda
Pictured: Portret w drzazgach (Portrait in Shreds), 2017, 200x180 cm
