Exhibition of Exhibitions in the Summer Theatre. Amphitheater Gallery invites

Szczecin celebrates the eightieth anniversary of the artistic community – a jubilee that has become the inspiration for a unique curatorial project. In the Helena Majdaniec Summer Theatre, in the open space of the amphitheatre, the "Exhibition of Exhibitions" was inaugurated – a kind of tribute to Szczecin artists, curators and the artistic heritage of the region.

The concept of the exhibition is the work of Katarzyna Zimnoch and Paweł Kleszczewski – a curatorial duo fascinated not only by the works of art themselves, but also by the history of their presentation. As they emphasize, the subject was not easy, and its scope made it impossible to include the entire body of work in one exhibition.

- We have set ourselves a very difficult topic - says Katarzyna Zimnoch. - The eightieth anniversary of the Szczecin art community is a huge topic, impossible to encapsulate in one narrative or exhibition. That is why we decided to approach it fragmentarily - showing selected moments, characters and phenomena.

The exhibition in the amphitheater also has a personal and archival dimension. A special place is occupied by the figure of Jadwiga Oczkowska-Najdowa, known as "Mrs. Najdowa" - an outstanding curator and caretaker of the collections of the National Museum in Szczecin, who died in 2010.

- Mrs. Najdowa was an amazing person - recalls Katarzyna Zimnoch. - She worked at the museum for many years, organized exhibitions, wrote texts, bought works for the collection. It was thanks to her that many important initiatives came to fruition. I had the pleasure of receiving part of her private archive - catalogues, articles, correspondence, and even typescripts. It is a real treasure and a testimony to her work.

The aim of the exhibition was also to honour those who often remain in the shadows - curators, organisers, authors of texts, whose role in shaping the art scene is invaluable. As Paweł Kleszczewski says: - We wanted to show the heroes of the background. Without their efforts, there would not be so many events, exhibitions, publications. It is thanks to them that art can meet the recipient.

The exhibition is just a fragment of a larger project, which – as the curators announce – may have its continuation in the form of a blog, online editions and subsequent editions. In this anniversary year, Szczecin is remembering its artists – and those who over the years have taken care to ensure that their art is not forgotten.©℗

(dg)