After arriving in Poland I quickly made my way to Krakow, probably the most well-visited cities. Being mid-August it was packed, so I directly made my way to the International Print Triennial.
Honestly, it was pretty impossible to find and I almost gave up at one moment, but luckily came across a poster with some clear directions. Eventually, I came across the arts bunker in which the main exhibition was held. I think it was worth the mission.
The event dates back to 1966 and now is both a global competition and presentation of the complex nature of the printmaking process.
I was particularly drawn to the graphically striking work of Kamil Kocurek. Then Zuzanna Dyrda‘s work Slob, (having spent a great deal of time in Sauna’s around Estonia, it captured the experience and printing onto bodies). I also loved the multi-media games of Natalie Lamanova.
It was also fantastic to see Tracy Hill’s work winning the European print prize, having met her during a Print Symposium at UCLan a few years ago. Mindblowing work, I think she definitely deserved this.
As I had little motivation to remain in Krakow, bustling streets, stag do’s and the realisation that a central hostel was not the best of ideas. I still have no idea what its smell was, and ‘that guy’ on the bunk below. no no.
So I caught the next bus to Kielce, a town between Krakow and Warsaw. Here was Radosław Nowakowski. He kindly took me to his house where he has his workshop and a small gallery/reading room. He makes books which describe the world, fantasy worlds, tubular worlds, the world of the street in Kielce, map worlds. He spent the afternoon showing me his work, diving in and out of these multiple worlds. If you want to see more of his worlds, digital worlds, book worlds. Check out his website here.
It was also great to see a book which he produced in the 80s, with limited access to print, inks, paper. He was still able to play with form and structure of books in his work even with the imposed limitations of censorship. He made an edition of 5, hand drawing all the little houses. ( I think I might prefer the Book Then)…
