accompanying events
7th Auction of Polish Collectors’ Photography
“Collectors’ Photography” is a project that is evolving, changing like a living organism. The originators are Artinfo.pl Portal Rynku Sztuki and Auction House Rempex. Organizing an exhibition and auction devoted to photography is a sensation on the Polish market. First editions focused to present Polish photographers and artists. People could buy works by famous artists, the icons of photography art. But the project is not about famous names, the purspose is to promote contemporary young photography. Next to famous artists stand new young authors that can become recognizable. The obectives develop as well as the project grows. The organizers put emphasis on education. The catalogue accompanying each edition presents the artist. Also each edition is different, it can show foreign authors next to Polish ones, or with the focus on the author now entering the art world because his talent exceeds the experience. Or the contrary – to point attention to rare photographic example. The organizers try to find the border whether the photograph is art or fulfils other function. Often photographers, journalists writing about the project ask what photograph gains the most interest. The answer is never straightforward. There is no leitmotiv, no artificial frames or imposed technique of work. In the project participate both professional photographers and graduates from art universities, but also amateurs with amazing talent. All participants have freedom in their choice of the subject and technique. Once black-and-white photogaphy is poluar, another time color. There are large format pictures such as 100 x 70 cm, 140 x 110 cm and small: for example 9 x 5,5 cm. When it comes to sale, there is no one picture model that attracts collectors. It can be a name but also a cropping or techniqueSome collect landscapes, other nudes, somebody can be interested in a particular period in the artis’s work life or wants to collect photographs from a concrete region. The aim of the project is to promote photography revealing collectors’ qualities. The catalogue is build as a chronological panorama to present the authors and the period they worked or work. At aexhibition there are works from the 19th century made in collodion technique and transformed with the latest digital techniques, even with the use of lenticular foil. “Collectors’ Photography” is also about photographic objects, light boxes. The freedom regarding the choice of subject and technique is embraced by the determinant of photography having archives qualities, The main emphasis is the “collectioness” which means popularization of photography fulfilling defined conditions. In Poland normalization in creation of works is not yet defined. Each artist invited to the project is asked to fill in the form that is a detailed description of the photograph: size, circulation, technique. The latest works should have the quality certificate meaning the producer guarantees the archival print for example resistant to light, or for a defined time - 100 years. Making such normalization is useful for photographers themselves, art historians, art dealers. “Collectors’ Photography” is not an easy project. This year’s is the 7th edition. The presumption is that among participating artists there will be a rotation/ Each time organizers invite new artists to show whether there is a development in this sphere of art, new names, new approaches. Also, the project is to show other aspects in the work of famous authors, new works or those now forgotten. There is no other so diversified project regarding the subject or technique on the Polish market . It is important that this event is periodic. The quality of “Collectors’ Photography” is acknowledged in artistic circles and more. There are media patronages from the photographic industry, arts and other. The project was discussed in Program 1 in Polskie Radio, TVP, TVN Warszawa and TV Biznes. It is an udertaking that should be supported. Photography is more and more popular but there is a lot of educational work ahead of Collectors’ Photography.
Eustachy Kossakowski (1925 – 2001)
„Color. Eustachy Kossakowski“
Born in Warsaw. Although not finished his studies at Architecture Department, University of Technology in Warsaw, he started his professional career in magazine “Zwierciadło: in 1957. In the second half of 1950s and in 1960s he worked as a photo reporter in magazines: „Stolica”, „Polska”, „Ty i Ja”. In 1960 became a member of the Association of Polish Art Photographers. In 1960s he continued his career as a photographer and entered the circles of the avant-garde centered around Krzywe Koło and Foksal Galleries, theatre of Tadeusz Kantor and Jerzy Grotowski. Since 1964 collaborated closely with Edward Krasiński and photographed his installations while constructing. Since the origin of Foksal Galelry in 1966 he photographed artistic activities of Henryk Stażewski, Tadeusz Kantor, Włodzimierz Borowski. Author of a unique documentation of happenings and some performances by Tadeusz Kantor (for example “Koncer Morski” [“Sea Concert”] 1967). Also from this period come works that show Kossakowski as a susceptible observer.
His collaboration with Foksal Gallery was ended with the unfinished project. In 1970 Kossakowski settled down in France with Anka Ptaszkowska. The firs series made in France was famous „Sześć metrów przed Paryżem” [“Six meters below Paris”] exhibited in in Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. Since 1973 Eustachy Kossakowski was a photographer in Centre de Creation Industrielle in Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris (1973-78) and later in l’A.R.C. Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (1982-85) and Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.
His stay in New York, Italy and in Tunis resulted in serie sof photographs focused on the issues of color and light. The research was finalized with the album titled „Lumières de Chartres”, acknowledged by public and critics. This success was followed by publishing other series, among them „Pompéi: demeures secrètes”.