After establishing high standards in the art of the poster, Poland has been considered to be at the forefront of poster art. For over a hundred years, Polish poster has been well-known worldwide. Poster as a technique evolved rapidly. The First International Poster Exhibition took place in Cracow in 1898. After the restoration of Poland's sovereignty in 1918, the art of poster began to flourish, centered around the city of Warsaw.
In the 1920s and 1930s, not only the Polish government made large-scale use of posters, but also commercial companies were turning this medium to meet the needs of industries such as tourism, business, sport, railway services or shipbuilding. This brilliantly developing art was interrupted by the Second World War and posters began to play a significant role. They became a communication channel of the communist government, spreading soviet propaganda until October 1956. It was a year of transition for Polish people. As Stalinist faction was significantly weakened, it also began to lose its power over artistic forms of expression.
Because of the communist government was less vigilant over some arts, the sixties was the time of international shows and large “exhibition boom” of Polish posters. Artists have managed to combine truly wonderful artistry with commercial purposes and, as a result, polish "way" of thinking about the poster become a world- famous novelty. Polish style began to be so recognizable worldwide, that the movement has even gotten a name- 'Polish School of Posters'. It was centered around one of the finest poster and graphic artists in the world, Henryk Tomaszewski.
As Poland for decades remained behind the iron curtain, it was the poster to provide the only credible window on the world. Because of how strongly the poster responded to social needs, a sense of solidarity between the artists and the audience appeared forming sort of a social bond- the names of the artists were widely known within the country. Therefore the Polish poster has become the voice of the people who would have been speechless without it.
"Posterized" exhibited at the PMQ in Hong Kong is an introduction to the most influential, award-winning contemporary poster artists from Poland - Mieczysław Wasilewski, Władysław Pluta, Małgorzata Gurowska and Lex Drewinski, to name but a few.
It is a conjunction of various creative personalities: from graphic designers to illustrators and independent artists, whose work focuses around a poster as a medium. As it also was relevant in the 1960's, such unique sharpness can only be achieved with an observant eye of an excellent poster artist.
The participants were also asked to carry out the project titled "Tribute to Hong Kong," which is their homage to the city and its long history. We're hoping, that this experimental project about this glorious city will be a refreshing venture and will initiate a series of unique posters.
A series of programmes will be presented during the exhibition period: there will be a typography workshop tailor-made for kids and a poster workshop for both kids and adults. Curators will talk about polish posters and how posters make graphic design a unique medium in the lectures and lead public tours on weekends.
WORKSHOPS
Typography workshop for kids (age: 8-13) - Duration: 1,5 hours
During this workshop, kids will get to know better how to use letters, how to make stencils and posters with them. We will also experiment with forms and colors making concepts of our poster designs.
03.06 (SUN) - 12.30 P.M. - 2.00 P.M.
Workshop for adults and kids: How to design a poster without letters and make it talk? - Duration: 1,5 hours
02.06 (SAT) - 12.30 P.M. - 2.00 P.M.
LECTURES
Polish posters during 1958-2018. Lecture by Max Skorwider/ Aga Mori PhD
Presentation and lecture on the multimedia projector.
30.05 WED 7.30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
Witty thinking in graphic design. - Lecture by Max Skorwider PhD
Posters that made graphic design unique compared to other media. Presentation and lecture on the multimedia projector.
31.05 (THURS) 7.30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.
Curatorial tour - by Marta Skorwider/Aga Mori /Max Skorwider
02.06 (SAT): 4.00 P.M. (Duration 30 -45 min)
Open workshop: 25.05 – 10.06
Exhibition: Posterized. Poster Art From Poland.
Exhibition: Duration: May 25 - June 10, 2018 (11am - 8pm)
Venue: Qube, 2/F, PMQ (35 Aberdeen Street, Central)
Website: http://posterized.eu/