The visitors had the opportunity to admire the originals of works, known from numerous book and press publications. The master, with equal latitude and virtuosity, for decades illustrated stories and tales, as well as literature destined for adults, as demonstrated perfectly at the exhibition in Żyrardów.

The exposition was divided into two parts. In the first hall were works for adults. There might be seen here extracts of illustrations for “Ubu King” by Alfred Jarra, “Ants” by Antoni Głowacki and “Felietones” by Stefan “Wiech” Wiechecki. The undoubted attraction of this part of the exposition is “Decalogue”, one of the master’s newest projects. In the second hall were illustrations for children. These were for “Stories” by Jean de la Fontaine, “A trip to Żmirłacz” by Lewis Carroll and “Reynard the Fox” by Johann Wolfgang Goethe. These are basic parts of master’s creative output. In one interview, Professor Janusz Stanny said that he had illustrated everything from the Holy Bible and “Don Quixote” to “Sir Thaddeus”.  Maybe with the exception of Joyce, because he personally didn’t want to. In his works, he freely connects the painter’s gaze with a sense of humor and sharp lines. He created a characteristic, immediately recognisable style. Through decades, he shared his experience and adoration of art, with his students in Warsaw Fine Arts Academy. Headed by him, the Workshop of Illustration and Graphical Designing at the Graphical Department had 250 graduates.

“Prace Domowe IV” is the next exhibition, begun by the exposition in the Caricature Museum in Warsaw in 2007. It coincided with the 75th birthday anniversary and 50th anniversary of the work of the artist. At “Prace Domowe IV” were exhibited, among others, works from the Municipal Art Gallery in Częstochowa, Art Gallery and Alfons Karny’s Sculpture Museum in Płock, and Podlaskie Museum’s Branch in Białystok.

The exhibition of Janusz Stanny’s illustrations “Prace Domowe IV” can be visited every day until the end of 2013, exposition open hours: 10:00-18:00 (Resursa. 1 Maja 45, Żyrardów).

Janusz Stanny: Professor Janusz Stanny was born on 29 th of February 1932. An illustrator, graphic artist and teacher, he graduated in 1957 from professor Henryk Tomaszewski’s workshop, at the Graphical Department of Warsaw’s Fine Arts Academy. From the beginning of 70s, he led the Illustration Workshop at his alma mater, where, in 1986, he received the title of professor. He is interested in illustrating, book graphics, posters, satirical drawings, and animated movie graphics. He has illustrated over 200 books, mostly for children. He is also the author of few books for children. His works include: “A tale of Dardanel King”, “About painter, ginger as brick”, “Horse and cat”. For his works, he has been honoured with many awards in his home country and abroad, including, among others, in 2003, the Medal of Polish IBBY Section for works as a whole for children and teenagers, and in 2006 the Gold Medal Gloria Artis. He belongs to a group of genre masters – the best Polish book illustrators and press drawers. Since 2003, he has been leading the Illustration Workshop in the Humanistic-Economical Academy in Łódź.

 

Janusz Stanny about himself: Since 1975, for a quarter of a century, I have been managing the Book and Illustration workshop at Graphic Department of Fine Arts Academy in Warsaw, in which I have been thesis supervisor of approximately ten people each year, who were receiving diplomas and Master of Arts title. So that now I have about 250 graduates, spread around the globe, and this is an obvious satisfaction for me, resulting from the fact that so many young people trusted me.

My output in the extent of useful graphics, reaches back to the year in which I received a diploma from professor Henryk Tomaszewski’s Workshop, 1957. Since that time I have done an enormous number of covers, worked out about 200 books, 50 posters, and a few artistic workouts for animated movies, set designs. I have written and illustrated three of my own books for children and I have also published a 100-page book with my drawings. I have illustrated all of the most important literary masterpieces from Polish and worldwide literature. Here are some of them: The Holy Bible, Don Quixote, La Fontaine (Tales), Jan Kochanowski (The epigrams), Henryk Sienkiewicz (Entire anthology), Lewis Carroll, Pietro Aretino, Goethe, Dante, Mickiewicz (Sir Thaddeus, Ballads and Romances). While illustrating, I was always faithful to and the servant of the literature which I have been working out, the literal record I have been treating with respect, and I have never had any intention to be wiser than the authors of those pieces of art. It fortunately happened that there were really great names.

About the formal merits or otherwise of my works I will not say anything, because I know how helpless are the words by which we try to describe the painting.

At the PTWK contest “Most Beautiful Books of the Year”, I received awards for illustrations for the books given below:

“The Adventures of Sinbad the Sailor” by  B. Leśmian (Czytelnik) in 1965,

„Awantura o kapcie” by J. Wilkowski (Ruch) in 1968,

„Deszczowa muzyka” by J. Kulmowa (Ruch) in 1971,

Ania i Ewa i Marian i Rusak i inni…”  by M. Michałowska (KAW) in 1975,

„Gdybym miał konia” by A. Onichimowska (KAW) in 1980,

And many honourable mentions:

1990 – “Reynard the Fox” by J. W. Goethe (Wyd. PTWK)

1996 – Rozmawiała gęś z prosięciem” by J. Brzechwa (Świat Książki)

Abroad, honours have included, for instance: 2 nd award at the contest In Buenos Aires/1966 for illustrations for “Don Quixote” by M. Cervantes, “Premio Grafico” at MTK in Bologna/1968 for illustrations for “Zaczarowany krawiec” by H. Januszewska (Nasza Księgarnia, 1967), Gold Medal IBA in Leipzig/1971 for designs of illustrations for “The Adventures of Sinbad the Sailor” by B. Leśmian, Silver Medal at trades in Moscow/1972 for “A tale of Dardanel King” (Ruch, 1971, new publication), BIB Medal in Bratislava/1975 for “Lions” by H. Januszewska (Ruch, 1974), “Premio Europeo” in Padova/1976 for “Lions” by H. Januszewska (Ruch, 1974), BIB Medal in Bratislava/1977 for “Tales” by H. Ch. Andersen (PIW, 1975), Addition to the International Honor List of IBBY/1998 for illustrations for the book “Pchła Szachrajka” by J. Brzechwa (Świat Książki, 1996), for outstanding artistic achievements and for my works as a whole, I received: in 1987 PTWK award, in 1999 Minister of Culture’s award, in 2003 Medal of Polish IBBY Section. In 2006, from the hands of Minister of Culture and National Heritage, I was honoured with the GLORIA ARTIS Gold Medal.

 

More photos from the event on: “Resursa” Gallery and Żyrardów.pl

Photos © Ewa Bartoszuk and Zbigniew Kołaczek /“Resursa” Gallery

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