BWA Contemporary Art Gallery in Katowice

Festival of Polish graphic ART
The Triennial of Polish Graphics, whose eighth edition is just about to begin, has become an inherent part of the International Print Triennial in Kraków. In a way, it is a younger sister of the Kraków event — younger yet completely independent, and its importance cannot be overstated. Once every three years the BWA Contemporary Art Gallery in Katowice invites the audience to see for themselves how Polish graphic art changes, and to become familiar with the latest trends which are prevailing in our artistic milieu. The proximity of two international events, the MTG — Kraków 2012 exhibition (which takes place in Bunkier Sztuki in Kraków) and PrintArt (its partnering event which is being held in the neighbourhood in Rondo Sztuki in Katowice), enables comparisons to be drawn between artworks produced by graphic artists from Poland and from many other parts of the world. The temporal coincidence of these three graphic art events accounts for a unique context in which each of them is received, while at the same time its momentum and scale help build the foundations of what has for some time been perceived as a major festival of graphic art in Poland, whose initiator and great advocate was Professor Skulicz, a co-founder of the International Print Biennial in Kraków, founder of the International Print Triennial Society in Krakow and a fervent adherent of collaboration with the Katowice graphic art circle, which initiated both the Triennial of the Polish Graphics and its partnering MTG exhibition, which is known to the public as MTG PrintArt.

This is the first triennial of Polish graphics to open after the professor’s death. I have a vivid memory of the vernissage of the seventh triennial, owing to the presence of the professor, who was overwhelmed with the large volume of duties in a full week  of vernissages within MTG Krakow 2009, but who found the energy to congratulate the winners and to enjoy their successes.  As a member of the jury I was curious as to how the audience would respond to the choices made by myself and the other members, and remember the professor looking at the exhibition and saying that is was the energy coming from the abundance of so many beautiful works that would enable the organization of subsequent events devoted to graphic art.

Three years later, it is with great anticipation that I am looking forward to the vernissage of the Katowice exhibition, although — unlike previous years — the list of the triennial winners has been known for a long time.  It is not however about the information itself. Nothing compares to the possibility of direct interaction with works of arts on view. Graphic art, and also digital, are unique domains, as their artistic value results from many factors, such as the material used to make a print, a matrix which might be revealed and displayed next to, or perhaps even in place of, the prints, or sometimes particular experiments carried out by individual artists. I sincerely hope that this year’s edition — which is the eighth one — of the Triennial of Polish Graphics will provide the whole audience with a similar memorable experience.

First and foremost on behalf of the International Print Triennial Society in Krakow, I would like to offer my heartiest congratulations to the winners of this year’s Triennial.

Most importantly, I would like to thank the mayor of Katowice, Piotr Uszok, for providing the organizers of the Triennial with tremendous support, which has greatly facilitated the continuation of this important event. I should also like to extend my grateful thanks and appreciation to the organizers; the Fine Art Academy in Katowice and its Rector Professor Marian Oslislo, who has offered the Triennial his unstinting support and joined its Organization Committee, and the BWA Contemporary Art Gallery in Katowice and its director Marek Kuś, whose kind cooperation has made this festival of Polish graphic art possible.

I hope that we will all meet in Katowice and that this meeting will leave us with lasting artistic impressions.

Dr Marta Raczek-Karcz
Vice-president of the International Print Triennial Society in Krakow
Coordinator of MTG — Krakow 2012 Program

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