Beginnings

Artists: Krzysztof Bednarski, Zbigniew Dłubak, Stefan Gierowski, Zbigniew Gostomski, Edward Krasiński, Kamil Kuskowski, Edward Narkiewicz, Maria Stangret-Kantor, Andrzej Szewczyk, Jan Tarasin

The beginning—this word, idea, state, provocation—stands as one of the primary subjects of humanistic reflection, metaphysical speculation, and theological discourse. It sparks the imagination of artists and those carrying everyday consciousness. Contemporary artists reference tradition, recalling past ways of coping with the weight of this issue while also pointing to new, significant territories of contention between different attitudes and perspectives.

We begin the exhibition with Owls, a lightbox by Zbigniew Gostomski, which sensitizes us to the importance of considering methods and the necessity of wisely perceiving reality in the right light. Jan Tarasin’s painting Początek (Beginning) is one of many works in his oeuvre that highlight the possibility of multiple beginnings and their connections to different orders.

A particularly strong reference to the iconographic tradition of modern art is the only photograph in the exhibition, created by Zbigniew Dłubak. The experience of a beginning is especially profound for artists—it marks the start of a new work, a cycle, or the engagement with an artistic problem. This concept extends beyond a single form of artistic activity; it is encountered by all who face a blank canvas, an empty sheet of paper, an unmarked musical staff, an alphabet, a language. In their numerous statements, artists such as Maria Stangret-Kantor, Andrzej Szewczyk, and Kamil Kuskowski address these situations.

In adopting positions and surrendering to imagination, it is valuable to maintain a distance that allows for criticism and self-reflection. Schematic thinking and routine, as reminded by Krzysztof M. Bednarski’s work Exercises in Dialectics (Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis), inevitably lead astray. Where a beginning can be suggested, an end can also be indicated. This is not the first gesture of a painter declaring The End of Painting, but in Edward Krasiński’s execution, thanks to its Dadaist affinity, it holds particular significance.

As seen in the works of Stefan Gierowski and Edward Narkiewicz, art and painting continuously find new forms of expression that break old definitions and rigid perceptions. The artists whose works are presented here were creators of the beginnings of our Gallery at various stages of its development. For obvious reasons, not all those who contributed to the Gallery’s history are represented. This exhibition continues an earlier exploration of its beginnings, previously expressed in the 2018 exhibition Among Friends.