The Harmony/Dysonance exhibition presents paintings and drawings by Elżbieta Kuraj and Janusz Karbowniczek, two outstanding artists associated with Oświęcim and the International Youth Meeting Centre in Oświęicm. The exhibition was created as part of the 30th anniversary of the International Youth Meeting Centre in Oświęcim, and its title refers to the activities of the Meeting Center- HARMONY is the stylistic uniformity of the Meeting Center, manifested in its architecture, the universal values that define the mission of the Centre and the coherent areas of freedom, including the artistic, to which we try to be faithful, are juxtaposed at the IYMC with the DYSONANCE of evil, which condemned the condition of man in this place 70 years ago. The key to understanding both of these categories is meeting. It is the one that allows to cross the border, understand the past and interpret the present.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Both artists graduated from the Graphic Arts Academy in Cracow. Currently, they are themselves teachers, professors of art schools: E. Kuraj at the Institute of Art of the Faculty of Arts in Cieszyn (Silesian University), while J. Karbowniczek runs his own drawing studio at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice. They have had dozens of individual exhibitions, participation in group exhibitions is counted in hundreds. Since the 1980s. last century they also "passed" 10 exhibitions in a duo. Why this coincidence? For years, they have been creating their everyday life together as life partners.

ABOUT THE PAINTINGS

The paintings of Elżbieta Kuraj is mainly about colour and all interactions resulting from his juxtapositions - contrasting or monochromatic. Its impact is different: it "attacks", literally pouring out of the "Rose" picture, it "blows" again with a subtle "Breath of Greyness". And although it is pleasant to analyze the meaning and mutual arrangement of color patches, emotions resulting from sensory experiences will be primary in the reception of this art. Noteworthy are the titles of the paintings that explain everything and are incredibly inspiring for the viewer.

Expressive drawings by Janusz Karbowniczek have one thing in common - we will always see a man in them. Just the head. The colour palette is also unchanging - white, black and grey obtained with the use of pencil and tempera. The whole human world is played out in this economical spectrum. These are works marked by profound humanism. The oil paintings in the work of Janusz Karbowniczek prove that he boldly starts with the color palette, though he is definitely less "aggressive" than his wife, more pastel.

It is difficult to compare the two artists. I'm sure there's more to them than that. Elizabeth Kuraj's painting is a landscape, synthesis, emotions, element, momentum. The art by Janusz Karbowniczek - the appropriate character, analysis, intellect, arrangement and order, temperance.

There is a possibility of an unconventional tour of the exhibition by the M. O. L. O. band (Jacek Hołubowski, Mateusz Pliniewicz, Piotr Skupniewicz), who composed specially for this project pieces which are musical illustrations of the work of both artists. The exhibition is accompanied by a German-Polish catalogue designed by Tomasz Kipka.

Technical conditions:

The exhibition consists of paintings on canvas and graphics framed behind glass in different formats. Please ask for the current composition of the exhibition if you are interested in renting.

The text uses fragments (about artists, about pictures) of Małgorzata Gwóźdź's text.

Photo. Krzysztof Janik