The exhibition at the Museum of Photography Rakowicka reveals how photography became an artform and its creators – artists. “We are proud that the first review of Polish fine-art photography will be held right here, at the Museum of Photography in Kraków,” the organisers add.
The term “fotografika” was coined by Jan Bułhak in 1927 to make a distinction between artistic photography and “professional and trade photography, and to stress its kinship with printmaking and graphic arts in general”. Bułhak and his contemporaries, allied at the Polish Photo Club, used cameras to create “paintings”, and used their technical skills to achieve myriad effects. The concept of “fotografika” encompasses soft, native landscapes, experimental montages and posters and album covers intertwining elements of photography and graphic design.
The exhibition, curated by Łukasz Gorczyca and Adam Mazur, is the first museum presentation of this historic genre. To make the most of this phenomenon, the Museum of Photography presents around 150 original prints from Poland’s most important museum and private collections. It’s the perfect opportunity to allow visitors to experience the development of fine-art photography in Poland.
Fotografika also tells the story of the artists themselves – their associations and communities where they gathered to discuss photography and publish and exhibit their works. The artists whose works will be shown at the exhibition Fotografika. Fine-art photography in Poland 1927–1978 include Jan Bułhak, Zdzisław Beksiński, Janusz Maria Brzeski, Roman Cieślewicz, Zbigniew Dłubak, Edward Hartwig, Jerzy Lewczyński, Natalia LL, Fortunata Obrąpalska, Wojciech Plewiński, Zofia Rydet, Stefan Themerson and Wojciech Zamecznik.
