Beksiński still shocking
This is one of the most prominent cultural events at the beginning of 2015 in Wroclaw. The works by Zdzisław Beksiński, an artist murdered 10 years ago, have been captivating both the critics and the gallery audience. Beksiński's fans, including a lot of people from abroad, simply love both his sombre, Gothic paintings and his notorious photographs (e.g. representing his wife Zofia with her hands tied ) and drawings, the latter just as shocking as the former.
Beksiński reaches for a pen
The Centrum Kultury Zamek launches the Beksiński exhibition on Saturday 21. February. 80% of the works presented were made in pen, pencil and ink, and sometimes with crayons or charcoal. These are not mere sketches. They are complete works that have every right to feature at any exhibition.
This drawing was made by Beksiński in pen in 1966
In their vast majority, the works were made in the 1950s and 1960s, when Zdzisław Beksiński lived with his family in Sanok and worked at the "Autosan" Sanok Coach Factory, which had been established by one of the artist's ancestors. "Some of the works may raise quite a controversy," says Piotr Makarewicz from the Centrum Kultury Zamek. For this reason, the curators decided to set the age limit of the viewers.
NC-15 exhibition
The exhibition is open to viewers who are over 16 years of age. The curators aim to draw a more mature audience who are able to pierce through the literal content of the work and understand its symbolic import. Nudity is a prevalent theme in Beksiński's works and so is terror. One of the exhibits represents the head of a crying man with a crooked nail hammered into a wall behind. A line attached to the nail is strangling the figure.
This and many more compelling visions will be on display at the Centrum Kultury Zamek from Saturday 21. February (vernissage at 5.00 p.m.) to Sunday 22. March. The exhibition is open to the public on working days from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. and at weekends from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. The tickets are available at 6 PLN (regular), 4 PLN (concessions)and 3 PLN (groups, at least 10 people required). UrbanCard Premium holders are entitled to a 20% discount.
