The Redutowe Rooms of the Polish National Opera are once again hosting an exhibition of Jerzy Skolimowski's works. The previous show marked the 80th birthday of the prominent director and painter. This time round the display will mainly present the artist's newest pieces painted during the pandemic. Dangers faced by the world today, climate change, environmental challenges, ecology – these are the issues that Skolimowski currently focuses in his art. 'This exhibition talks about the collapse of the world we live in, mainly in environmental terms, but in respect of morals and ethics,' says the artist.
Visitors will have a chance to watch a film made by Jerzy Skolimowski and Ewa Piaskowska for HBO's At Home series embracing 10-minute-long etudes filmed by excellent Polish artists at the beginning of lockdown. Skolimowski's contribution was shot in Sicily, where the artist was staying when the pandemic broke out.
Jerzy Skolimowski directed over 20 movies, including Start(The Departure; 1967 – Golden Bear, Berlin Film Festival), Krzyk (The Shout; 1978 – Special Jury Prize, Cannes Film Festival), Fucha (Moonlighting; 1982 – Best Screenplay, Cannes Film Festival), Latarniowiec (The Lightship; 1985 – Best Director, Venice Film Festival), Cztery noce z Anną (Four Nights with Anna; opening film of the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival), Essential Killing (Special Jury Award, Venice Film Festival, 2010; Best Film in the International Competition, Mar del Plata Festival; Best Director and Best Film at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia). He is also an accomplished painter. He has taken part in the Venice Biennale and presented his pieces in Europe and the US. In 2015 he received a honorary doctorate from the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź.