4th Congress “Sculpture in Public Space”

On October 21 and 22, the MCK will host a congress organized as part of the long-term investment program of the Center of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko entitled “Sculpture in the Public Space for Niepodległa”. Invited artists and experts will analyze the effects of this project and discuss sculpture in public space from a contemporary and historical perspective. For the first time, they will also discuss these issues in an international context. The congress will be accompanied by an exhibition, performances, and guided tours for participants.  

We invite you to a discussion on sculpture in public space, organized by the Center of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko in cooperation with the MCK and the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. The event will be held as part of the “Sculpture in the Public Space for Niepodległa” program, which aims to improve the aesthetic and functional quality of space in Poland by permanently introducing contemporary art into it. The 4th edition of the Conference will be an opportunity for various communities to meet and exchange knowledge and ideas, which will allow for an analysis of the phenomenon of sculpture in public space, the discovery of its creative potential in building deeper relationships with nature, and the identification of good practices in this area.

On the first day of the Congress, artists will talk about their sculptural proposals implemented as part of the CRP Orońsko program. They will also discuss their experiences, suggestions, and ideas related to working with “space” from the perspective of sculptors. Speakers will include Maurycy Gomulicki, Jan Sajdak, Jerzy Norkowski, Jerzy Dobrzański, Tomasz Domański, and Katarzyna Lipecky. Their presentations will serve as an introduction to a panel discussion with experts and researchers. A distinguished group of specialists has been invited to participate in the entire congress: Agata Agatowska, Maciej Aleksandrowicz, Anna Kłosowska, Marta Leśniakowska, Anna Maria Leśniewska, Agata Małodobry, Ewa Rombalska, Bartłomiej Struzik, and Magdalena Ujma. Their involvement will allow for an in-depth analysis of the phenomenon, comparison with Western European examples, and a better understanding of its specifics and context.

“Negotiating space. Sculpture parks in Central Europe” is the theme of the second day of the congress, which will be moderated by Monika Rydiger and Natalia Żak from the MCK. As part of this topic, speakers will discuss, among other things, contemporary sculpture ensembles in public spaces, with particular emphasis on issues at the intersection of power and politics. An example of this will be the unique monument complex in Târgu Jiu by Constantin Brâncuși, whose work is currently on display at the MCK Gallery. Issues related to the institutional framework and the idea of sculpture parks in the Czech Republic will also be discussed, as well as contemporary practices at the intersection of sculpture and public space in Lithuania, Latvia and Slovenia. The issue of “unwanted” socialist sculpture will also be addressed. The speakers on this day will be Anna Podsiadły (Center of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko), Erwin Kessler (director of the Art Museum in Bucharest), Barbora Kundračíková (Museum of Art in Olomouc), Kristina Mizgirytė-Kryžauskė (AV17 Gallery, Lithuania), Deja Bečaj (Božidar Jakac Gallery, Slovenia), Leonarda Ķestere-Kļaviņa (Turaida Museum, Latvia), and Michał Wiśniewski (ICC). This day will also end with an expert discussion.

The congress will also feature accompanying events. On the first day, there will be the opening of the exhibition “Space – Time – Form: Sculptural Objects and architectural-sculptural solutions from the achievements of the Faculty of Sculpture of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow” and a performance by Miho Iwata. On the second day, conference participants will take part in performative guided tours with Agata Małodobry in the Gardens of Women Sculptors and Bogusław Bachorczyk in “Our Little Garden” (the artist's studio/gallery).  

Participation in the event is free of charge.

The online broadcast will allow you to follow the Congress remotely.

Registration takes place on site on the day of the event.

More information on the website of the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko

Organiser: Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko

Co-organiser: International Cultural Centre in Krakow

The Congress is part of the Polish Sculpture Centre in Orońsko's own programme, “Sculpture in Public Space for Independence”, co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Participants:

• dr hab. Agata AGATOWSKA, Professor at the University of National Education Commission in Kraków
• prof. dr hab. Maciej ALEKSANDROWICZ, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw
• dr hab. Bogusław BACHORCZYK, Professor of the Academy of Fine Arts, Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków
• Deja BEČAJ, Galerija Božidar Jakac - Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Slovenia
• dr hab. Katarzyna CHRUDZIMSKA-UHERA, Professor at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Institute of Art History, Faculty of Historical Sciences, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw
• dr Jerzy DOBRZAŃSKI, Faculty of Architecture, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin
• dr Tomasz DOMAŃSKI, author of sculptures, installation artwork and objects, and the unique 'Wieżogród' (i.e. Tower Garden)
• Maurycy GOMULICKI, visual artist, designer, photographer, collector and anthropologist of popular culture
• Miho IWATA, performer, choreographer and set designer, author of dance performances
• prof. Erwin KESSLER, director of MNAR – National Museum of Art, Bucharest
• Leonarda ĶESTERE-KĻAVIŅA, Turaidas muzejrezervatas – Turaida Museum Reserve, Latvia
• Anna KŁOSOWSKA, Sculpture and Contemporary Art Conservation Studio, National Museum in Kraków
• prof. Jarosław KOZAKIEWICZ, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw
• dr Barbora KUNDRAČĺKOVÁ, Department of Art History, Faculty of Arts, Palacký University in Olomouc
• Paulina KURC-MAJ, Director of the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko
• prof. PAN dr hab. Marta LEŚNIAKOWSKA, Institute of Art, Polish Academy of Sciences
• dr Anna Maria LEŚNIEWSKA, Film School in Łódź
• Katarzyna LIPECKY, sculptor, founder of the Kate Lipecky Sculpture Foundation – The Sculpture Foundation
• Agata MAŁODOBRY, National Museum in Kraków
• Kristina MIZGIRYTĖ-KRYŽAUSKĖ, (AV17) GALLERY, Vilnius
• Jerzy NORKOWSKI, author of intermedia installation artwork, performer, exhibition organizer
• Anna PODSIADŁY, Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko
• mgr inż. arch. Ewa ROMBALSKA, National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning in Warsaw
• dr Monika RYDIGER, International Cultural Centre in Kraków
• Jan SAJDAK, author of land art sculptures, musician
• dr hab. Bartłomiej STRUZIK, Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Faculty of Sculpture, Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków
• Magdalena UJMA, Tadeusz Kantor Art Documentation Centre CRICOTEKA and Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków
• dr Michał WIŚNIEWSKI, International Cultural Centre in Kraków
• Natalia ŻAK, International Cultural Centre in Kraków