Solo show
Witkacy. Seismograph of the Acceleration Age
8 Jul 2022 — 9 Oct 2022 at National Museum in Warsaw
· Warsaw
This temporary exhibition presents a comprehensive survey of works by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz (1885–1939), one of Poland's most influential modernist artists and thinkers. Held at the National Museum in Warsaw in 2022, the show examines Witkiewicz's multifaceted practice—spanning painting, sculpture, photography, theater design, and theoretical writings—as a seismograph of the turbulent early twentieth century.
Witkiewicz's art and philosophy responded to the accelerating pace of modern life, technological innovation, and social upheaval of his era. The exhibition traces his evolution from early symbolism through avant-garde experimentation, highlighting his distinctive visual language and his influential theories on pure form and artistic autonomy. His work remains a vital touchstone for understanding modernism's radical potential and its engagement with the anxieties and possibilities of the machine age.
Witkiewicz's art and philosophy responded to the accelerating pace of modern life, technological innovation, and social upheaval of his era. The exhibition traces his evolution from early symbolism through avant-garde experimentation, highlighting his distinctive visual language and his influential theories on pure form and artistic autonomy. His work remains a vital touchstone for understanding modernism's radical potential and its engagement with the anxieties and possibilities of the machine age.
About the artist
Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz
1885–1939 · Expressionism
Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, commonly known as Witkacy, was a Polish writer, painter, philosopher, theorist, playwright, novelist, and photographer active before World War I and during the interwar period.
About the artist →About the venue
National Museum in Warsaw
· Warsaw
The National Museum in Warsaw is a national museum in Warsaw, one of the largest museums in Poland and the largest in the capital. It comprises a collection of ancient art, counting about 11,000 objects, an extensive gallery of Polish painting since the 16th century and a collection of foreign…