9th International Socio-Political Poster Biennale
On the 14th of October, the exhibition of the 9th International Socio-Political Poster Biennale 'Creative for Human Rights' was opened at the IYMC.
The competition attracted 274 artists from 39 countries around the world, who submitted 629 posters. The competition jury composed of: Krzysztof Dydo, Cracow Poster Gallery - chairman, Joanna Klęczar-Déodat, director of the IYMC in Oświęcim, Dr hab. Sebastian Kubica, University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Education in Cieszyn, Ewa Natkaniec, poster artist, Prof. Władysław Pluta, Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, Dr Maria Anna Potocka, Museum of Contemporary Art MOCAK in Kraków, Leszek Szuster, IYMC in Oświęcim, Dr Paweł Warchoł, curator of the Biennale, qualified 80 posters for the exhibition.
The opening was attended by Anna Szałaśna, former prisoner of Auschwitz and Ravensbrück Concentration Camp, and representatives of the event's partners: Dr. Michael Groß, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kraków, Andrzej Skrzypiński, Starost of Oświęcim, Monika Świętek-Smrek, director of the Culture Centre in Oświęcim, Maria Moroz, secretary of the Association of Polish Artists and Designers, Andrzej Tombiński, former Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Austria, president of the Re-bau company, Krzysztof Kwater from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, as well as Dr Alicja Bartuś President of the Board of the Foundation for IYMC. Together with the members of the jury they awarded the prizes to the distinguished artists present at the vernissage. Letters sent by the absent representatives of the Partners, Janusz Chwierut, Mayor of Oświęcim, Mirosław Smolarek, Mayor of the Oświęcim Municipality, and Stefan Löwl, Landrat of the Dachau District, were also read out.
The exhibitions were introduced by Dr Maria Anna Potocka, director of the MOCAK Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków.
The following awards were presented:
1st Prize – Mayor of Oświęcim – City of Peace Prize – Szymon Łacheta (Poland) “P€ace”
2nd Prize – FRG Consul General's in Cracow Prize – Chia Hsiang Lee (Taiwan) “Speech Killing”
3rd Prize – Starost of Oświęcim Prize – Katarzyna Nachman (Poland) “Sheep”
City of Dachau Prize – Alicja Kultys (Poland) “Independence”
District of Dachau Prize – Szymon Łacheta (Poland) “Ukraine ‘22”
Prize of the Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków – Martyna Paluchiewicz-Łabaj (Poland) “Belarus-Poland”
Prize of the Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice – Zebiao Lin (China) “Quarantine”
Prof. Józef Hołard Prize founded by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Educational Science in Cieszyn, University of Silesia in Katowice – Małgorzata Łodygowska (Poland) “Polska”
General Board of the Association of Polish Artists and Designers Prize – Marek Osman (Poland) „Starwars 2022 Ukraine”
Prize of the mayor of the Oświęcim Municipality - Reza Sheri (Iran) “Liar”
The vernissage was accompanied by a performance of the ensemble "Gorgany" from the Centre for Creativity Veselka from Lviv, which presented traditional Ukrainian songs and dances.
Partners:
The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, City of Oświęcim, City of Dachau, District of Dachau, Oświęcim County, Consulate General of Germany in Kraków, The Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, The Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, University of Silesia in Katowice, Association of Polish Artists, Oświęcim Municipality. Financial support: En-Co, Omag, Austrotherm, Re-bau, META, Gebruder Weiss, Grupa Kęty
Photo: Krzysztof Janik
