An exhibition titled "Living Paintings, or playing with Polish painting" will open at the Polish Institute in Budapest on January 20. On the other hand, we can see the reimagining of the masterpieces of Polish painting from the 19th and 20th centuries in the live reproductions.
Students, parents and teachers of the Sándor Petőfi Polish School, which operates next to the Polish Embassy, took on the roles of peasants, national heroes and muses in the paintings of the most famous Polish painters. The paintings were not only brought to life, but also interpreted, often in a bold, sometimes playful form. The portrait photos were taken by Csoma Szilvia.
Opening: January 20, 2022 (Thursday), 6:00 p.m
Location: Polish Institute – 1065 Budapest, Nagymező u. 15.
The guests are greeted by Joanna Urbańska, director of the Polish Institute. The exhibition will be opened by Izabela Kisłow-Bisztrai, the originator and implementer of the project, curator of the exhibition. The opening will take place in the presence of the creators and models.
The re-creation of live paintings or live reproductions, some paintings or literary works was already known in the 18th century and was considered a paratheatrical parlor game that colored the atmosphere of costume balls. The phenomenon of re-creation gained more popularity in the 19th century, when it appeared on the boards of the stage, as part of parades and festivals. It is interesting that at first it was not painting but works of fiction that served as inspiration. The live reproductions were mostly accompanied by music.
The living reproductions of the Sándor Petőfi Polish School, which operates next to the Polish Embassy, The participants in the project undertook a difficult task: they had to take on the roles of peasants, national heroes, children and muses in the paintings of well-known Polish painters such as Józef Chełmoński, Stanisław Wyspiański, Jacek Malczewski or Tadeusz Makowski. They not only brought the individual works to life, but also interpreted them, often in a bold, sometimes playful form. The starting point of the interpretations was the criticism of the consumer society and its representation in a playful form. The live paintings were lensed by Csoma Szilvia. At the exhibition, in addition to reproductions of the original images that provide inspiration, the visitor can see reimaginings of nearly 30 well-known Polish paintings.
