Kraków in Sumi-e

The exhibition presents works by students of Atelier Margot – the International School of Japanese Ink Painting, founded by Małgorzata Tohkou 東虹 Olejniczak, a master of sumi-e painting and an artist with an international exhibition and teaching practice. For over 25 years, she has developed her artistic path, studying in Tokyo under the guidance of Master Tohun Kobayashi. Her works have been exhibited across Europe, the United States, and Japan, while her teaching activities extend throughout Europe.

The school was established in 2009 as a space for deepening knowledge and practice of traditional Far Eastern painting techniques. In 2016, Małgorzata Tohkou 東虹 Olejniczak opened another class of Japanese painting at the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Kraków. Since 2023, she has been conducting courses in the meeting hall of the Museum of Kraków, continuing to cultivate and nurture this unique art form within both the Polish and European cultural landscape.

This exhibition is the result of many years of pedagogical work. Its theme is the city of Kraków seen through the lens of Japanese ink painting. The works have been created using traditional sumi-e techniques, which students explore and develop throughout their studies.

The artists – coming from various parts of Poland – attempt to capture the spirit of Kraków, interpreting it through their own experiences, sensitivity, and means of expression characteristic of Far Eastern aesthetics. The presented works include both recognizable architectural and historical motifs, as well as more symbolic and personal visions of the city.

The exhibition reveals a diversity of approaches to the subject and individual artistic paths, while remaining in dialogue with the tradition of sumi-e. It offers a view of Kraków as a space of cultural encounter – a place where European heritage meets the subtle aesthetics of Japanese ink painting.