Oskar Kokoschka. The Early Years
06.10.1994 - 04.12.1994
The exhibition of Oskar Kokoschka was another in a series of expositions featuring the pioneers of modern art of the 20th century. Though initially associated with the Vienna Secession, the artist gradually evolved towards Expressionism. He was both a painter and a writer – his play entitled Murder. Hope of Women created a scandal when published in 1909. His artistic creation was heavily influenced by Gustav Klimt and the architect Adolf Loos. A relationship with the artist Alma Mahler lasting over a number of years was also of great importance – her figure as well as a motif of domination and female’s triumph over men often appear in Kokoschka’s works from the period. Kokoschka’s portraits and drawings were particularly interesting. Known to have a reputation of a “soul ripper”, instead of pursuing veracity and similarities, Kokoschka focused on presentation of a model’s psychological complexity and interiority of their soul.
Selected works available at the exhibition
Exhibition show (photo by A. Janikowski)
Serge Sabarsky
Among numerous exhibitions organised by the International Cultural Centre, the presentation of some of the finest artists associated with the German and Austrian avant-garde remains of special significance. So far, the prominence has been given to the artists associated with the Vienna Secession, Expressionism and New Reality. Familiarisation with the above-mentioned phenomena is a necessary prerequisite for the proper understanding of various trends present in the world art of the 20th century. Moreover, the exhibitions have provided the Polish artists of the period with a very important international context. In 1992, the International Cultural Centre was involved in the preparation of the European Cultural Month – a series of events related to Krakow being named the European Capital of Culture. A diverse cultural programme entailed numerous exhibitions, including those of Gustav Klimt and George Grosz, as well as theatrical and music performances. In the following years, the International Cultural Centre Gallery proudly exhibited the works of Oskar Kokoschka, Egon Schiele and Emil Nolde, among others. The majority of the International Cultural Centre exhibitions were organised in cooperation with Serge Sabarsky – a world-renowned American collector of art and an expert on German art.
Oskar Kokoschka. The Early Years
This catalogue cantains 102 repreoductions of oil paintings, drawings and watercolours by one of the leading exponents of European Expressionism. It is supplemented with comments by P. Krakowski, J. Purchla, S. Sabarsy and P. Werkner on the artist's life and work.