Roman Opałka's unknown face [PHOTOS]

Roman Opałka, one of Poland's twentieth-century leading artists, went down in the history of art as the creator of "counted paintings" in which he represented digits in various shades of black, grey and white. He carried out his project consistently until his dying days. His numbered compositions called "Detail" have fetched record-breaking prices of several million PLN at auctions both in Poland and abroad. Opałka's works can be found in such celebrated collections as those of the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Art in Łódź.

"Roman Opałka. First Three Decades of his Career" was previously on display at the Stalowa Gallery in Warsaw.

- This exhibition is going to shift focus from his "counted paintings' - says Krzysztof Stanisławski, the exhibition's curator. - We are showing those of Opałka's works which were created prior to his departure for France in 1977. We would like to show that Opałka dealt in painting, drawing and graphic art and that he was good at all three. We are presenting Opałka's designs of book covers, medals and posters - enumerates the curator. - In the 1960s, Opałka worked for the People's Polish Army. He designed posters to announce various artistic events and performances by the People's Polish Army Orchestra. He was versatile as an artist, and he was able to attain perfection in everything he did. Even though the works presented at the exhibition stand out from the main body of his oeuvre, they will will help you to understand his choice to devote his entire life to the series called "Opałka 1965 /1- ∞".

Additionally, the exhibition features excellent photograms by Czesław Czapliński, who represents Roman Opałka in his studio in Bazerac, France, and at the 1995 Biennial in Venice, Italy.

One of his photos represents Opałka seated at a table in Warsaw's Bristol Hotel. - This is where, according to the anecdote confirmed by Opałka himself, he came up with the idea to create his 'counted paintings - says the curator. - He was waiting at that table for Halszka. She was getting late. Then it occurred to him that he could create "counted paintings". When Halszka finally came, Opałka was thankful for her being late - reveals Krzysztof Stanisławski.

The exhibition features works from a private collection as well as from the collection of Opałka's brother, Henryk.

The exhibition is also accompanied by Anka Mierzejewska's performance representing spectators queuing to see the event. You can come across the queue in ul Kiełbaśnicza.

Vernissage at the Municipal Gallery (ul. Kiełbaśnicza 28), 16 January, 6 pm