Roman Pietrzak, PhD (dr hab.)
Faculty of Sculpture, Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw
Recommendation
for the project ‘Rediscovering the work of Eugeniusz Sawczyn’
I wholeheartedly recommend this project dedicated to the documentation, digitisation and promotion of the work of Eugeniusz Sawczyn (1956–1998) – an outstanding Polish sculptor and medallist, whose artistic output constitutes an important, yet still insufficiently recognised, element of the heritage of Polish contemporary art.
Eugeniusz Sawczyn is a graduate of the Faculty of Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and has been a lecturer there for many years. His works—intimate sculptures and plaques, mostly cast in bronze—are distinguished by their profound emotional depth, intimacy and spiritual reflection on the human condition. It is a body of work that employs a subtle language of form, encapsulated in restrained, almost ascetic forms. The artist approached the subject of humanity with great sensitivity; his compositions often evoke themes of solitude, contemplation and spiritual tension, but also the presence of love, tenderness and hope. One can see in them masterful craftsmanship and extraordinary attention to detail, and at the same time an inner stillness that allows the viewer to pause and delve deeper into the form depicted. Despite their small scale, Sawczyn’s sculptures possess the impact of monuments, and their spiritual depth allows the viewer to feel a connection with something timeless and universal. In his art, one can find an attempt to transcend the boundaries of materiality towards that which is invisible yet real. His work brings together the fragility of matter and the strength of the spirit, making it universal and moving even for today’s viewer.
The project, carried out by a team of the artist’s close friends and colleagues, involves cataloguing and digitising his body of work, publishing an album, and organising exhibitions in Poland and abroad. It also includes the expansion of the website, critical and film documentation, and collaboration with experts and cultural institutions.
I wholeheartedly commend this initiative which, in addition to restoring the rightful place in art history of one of the original voices of 20th-century Polish sculpture, contributes to strengthening intercultural dialogue and building bridges between Poland and Canada. This project also makes a valuable contribution to the preservation and promotion of Polish artistic heritage abroad.
In my view, the project ‘Rediscovering the Work of Eugeniusz Sawczyn’ deserves broad support in terms of expertise, institutional backing and funding. It is an initiative of great artistic, educational and social value.
