CURATORS

Magda Grzybowska was born in Wrocław. In 2000, she graduated with a diploma in sculpture from the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław. In her artistic practice, she takes up predominantly spatial phenomena, not necessarily restricted to sculpture. In her works, she employs sculptural objects as well as film, photography, light effects, situation, gesture, sound and movement. Since 2006, she has been professionally associated with Wrocław’s Academy of Art and Design. In 2011, she earned a PhD and in 2018 a postdoctoral degree in the discipline of fine arts.

Why the Symposium?
“Since 2017, I have been a co-creator of the “It Was, It Is and It Will Be” Art Symposium. And this is the answer why I do: the collaboration with wonderful people on the project which, going back to the source (of our artistic needs), builds a certain history of time, place and people.”

Marek Sienkiewicz was born in Wrocław. He graduated from the State School of Fine Arts in Poznań with a diploma in sculpture under professor Jan Berdyszak (1994). He is a teacher at the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław, at the Faculty of Sculpture and Art Mediation. He works with sculpture and focuses on its place in other media.

Why the Symposium?
“I believed that there was a great need among artists to meet and talk about our new works and projects. Being together encourages the exchange of approaches and the confrontation of artistic communities with one another. Hence the idea of the symposium, which does not place the greatest emphasis on the final works but regards the being together of artists as the most valuable thing. This time of being together, so important for the artists, is embodied in “Beautiful Times” as the opposite of the situation of having to be separated from the experienced past and present time. This situation, combined with the uniqueness of the location (Morawa near Strzegom) an its complex history, inspires the artist to face the eponymous beauty of times in the context of the symposium’s leading theme* – “It Was, It Is and It Will Be” – transported to the present-day situation. (*according to Stanisław Dróżdż)”

Anna Bujak is a graduate of the Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław (2011). She works with installation and sculpture. In her works, she combines various materials: metal, plastic, organic matter (such as hair and pieces of bones) and everyday use items. Her works focus on the relationship between Man and nature. She determinately looks for ambiguity and ulterior motives governing human nature. She draws her inspiration from ordinary life, literature and the observed tensions between art and life.

And why the Symposium?
“I greatly value the preparation work on the Art Symposium “It Was, It Is and It Will Be”. I find the collaboration with the Symposium team and the invited guests very inspiring. It is a unique opportunity to exchange our artistic ideas.”

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Monika Aleksandrowicz is a graduate of the Painting Faculty at the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław (1999) and holds a degree in philosophy from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Wrocław (2001). She works in the Department of Art Mediation at Wrocław’s Academy. She is an assistant tutor in the Creative Communication Studio headed by professor Eugeniusz Józefowski.

Why the Symposium?
“I was invited to join this project by the excellent curators of the Art Symposium “It Was, It Is and It Will Be”: Magda Grzybowska, Anna Bujak and Marek Sienkiewicz. My task was to support the project visually and to create its new website in collaboration with Piotr Masny. We thank the organisers for their trust. Being engaged in artistic projects is a driving force and an ideal opportunity to share creative energy and artistic ideas as well as to undertake a new activity. It often leads to the formulation of one’s opinions and allows the artist to locate their work in specific timespace. Sometimes it encourages him/her to make changes and redefine their own artistic explorations. Irrespective of the outcome of individual projects, they always leave their mark, which in and of itself has a great potential.”

WWW

Piotr Masny (born in 1973 in Wrocław) studied at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology and graduated with a diploma in acoustics. He teaches at the Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław, at the Faculty of Graphics and Media Art. He is a sound engineer, musician and composer. He also works in the field of conceptual and geometric art, graphics and photography.

Why the Symposium?
“For the artist, the Symposium is a great opportunity to exchange ideas and get to know other artists, their approaches, works and methods. Collaborating with such an excellent group of artists is both an honour and pleasure.
For a website designer, the Symposium, especially its current virtual edition, poses a great challenge because everything is constantly changing and it is a continuous process to define its overall shape.”

PROMOTION

Kama Wróbel is a curator, coordinator, author and art critic. She is a graduate of the Institute of Art History. She analyses the phenomena taking place in the art market and exhibition scene. As a curator, she has organised a number of group and individual exhibitions. Her texts are published in the portals dedicated to art, as well as in art catalogues and magazines about culture and art. Since 2018, she has been the programme director at OP ENHEIM in Wrocław.

Why the Symposium?
“Co-creating art events is a challenge which generates a lot of positive energy. And the Art Symposium is extraordinary in this respect because it is made by artists for artists. It creates a space for collaboration, exchange of thoughts and creative ferment, which these days does not happen very often.”