The Beautiful 18th Century at Wawel
21–22 September
EXHIBITION FINISSAGE
"Magnificence of Rococo. Kaendler’s Meissen Porcelain Figures"
combined with the opening of an exhibition
"Long Live the King! Coronations of Saxon Wettins at Wawel"
Referred to as "white gold", it became synonymous with the splendour, wealth and uniqueness at royal courts among the aristocracy and nobility. European porcelain in the 18th century not only equalled Far Eastern prototypes, but surpassed them, also significantly changing the image of a society in which "freedom of imagination" triumphed, as Professor Mariusz Karpowicz put it years ago when describing 18th-centuryart in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth under the rule of the kings from the Saxon Wettin dynasty.
The essence of this triumph – both in its bold, theatrical arrangement and narrative layer – is referred to in two exhibitions at Wawel Royal Castle: the permanent exhibition The Porcelain Cabinet and the temporary exhibition "Magnificence of Rococo. Kaendler’s Meissen Porcelain Figures”. From 21 September, they are joined by another exhibition: "Long Live the King! Coronations of Saxon Wettins at Wawel" showcasing the splendour of the monarchy.
While admiring the new exhibition, and at the same time bidding farewell to “Magnificence of Rococo” (open only until 29 September), we invite all visitors to participate in events organised under the common title "The Beautiful 18th Century at Wawel".
On 21 and 22 September, we will experience the atmosphere of an era shaped by artists with an unfettered imagination:
"Magnificence of Rococo. Kaendler’s Meissen Porcelain Figures"
combined with the opening of an exhibition
"Long Live the King! Coronations of Saxon Wettins at Wawel"
Referred to as "white gold", it became synonymous with the splendour, wealth and uniqueness at royal courts among the aristocracy and nobility. European porcelain in the 18th century not only equalled Far Eastern prototypes, but surpassed them, also significantly changing the image of a society in which "freedom of imagination" triumphed, as Professor Mariusz Karpowicz put it years ago when describing 18th-centuryart in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth under the rule of the kings from the Saxon Wettin dynasty.
The essence of this triumph – both in its bold, theatrical arrangement and narrative layer – is referred to in two exhibitions at Wawel Royal Castle: the permanent exhibition The Porcelain Cabinet and the temporary exhibition "Magnificence of Rococo. Kaendler’s Meissen Porcelain Figures”. From 21 September, they are joined by another exhibition: "Long Live the King! Coronations of Saxon Wettins at Wawel" showcasing the splendour of the monarchy.
While admiring the new exhibition, and at the same time bidding farewell to “Magnificence of Rococo” (open only until 29 September), we invite all visitors to participate in events organised under the common title "The Beautiful 18th Century at Wawel".
On 21 and 22 September, we will experience the atmosphere of an era shaped by artists with an unfettered imagination:
- We will meet a procession of colourful characters from dell'arte comedy, who will surprise and amuse us in the arcade courtyard during the performance of "The Inn at the Broken Penny".
- We will take part in a concert for invisible instruments and also create an unusual musical installation in collaboration with blind people.
- The programme of "The Beautiful 18th Century at Wawel" also includes a moving performance by Jaga Hupało, who will bring the phenomenal figures of Johann Joachim Kaendler to life. During the performance there will also be a socially engaged campaign in support of the Daj Włos! [Give Hair!] Programme of the Rak'n'Roll Foundation, enabling hair donations to the Rak'n'Roll Foundation.
September 21 | Saturday
- 11 AM – Comedy dell'arte "The Inn at the Broken Penny"
- 1 PM – Fragile Beauty – a performance by Jaga Hupało inspired by the exhibitions Porcelain Cabinet and “Magnificence of Rococo”, combined with a social action for the Rak'n'Roll Foundation
- 4–6 PM – "Points of VISION"– Musical sculpture making workshop for the blind and sighted
Comedy dell'arte "The Inn at the Broken Penny"
PLACE: Arcade courtyard – free admission
The paths of various characters intersect in a stand-alone inn. The rich old man Pantalone arrives there, hoping to marry the young Rosalia, daughter of the landlady. It is also the meeting place of another future married couple – Madame Lucrezia and Florin, Dottore's son, facing bankruptcy, who sees in his son's lucrative marriage the only salvation. However, fate wants the young hearts to ignite a mutual love against their parents' wishes.
The KOMEDIANTY troupe will present a gallery of comedy types in a theatrical mirror. There will be no shortage of the costumes typical of Italian comedy, sudden plot twists and classic quid pro quo situations.
About the artists
Studio Dono is a theatre atelier founded in 2008 by the actor couple Agnieszka Cianciara-Fröhlich and Jonathan Fröhlich. They met in Paris at the École International de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq. They studied Physical Theatre, Comedy dell'arte and Comic Actor.
Agnieszka and Jonathan founded Studio Dono with the idea of developing the actor as an artist who is open to improving his craft and seeking new impulses. For five seasons (2011-2016), they were artistic and administrative supervisors of the chamber theatre – Scena na Lwowskiej.
Fragile Beauty
PLACE: Arcade courtyard – free admission
The figures of Johann Joachim Kaendler in contemporary interpretations by actors (including Jolanta Litwin-Sarzyńska and Grzegorz Sierzputowski) and models (including Antonia Wolff) will appear in the arcade courtyard of Wawel Royal Castle, spinning a tale of the fragile beauty of life – love, art, freedom and the desire for happiness. Among others, we will be guided through this non-obvious story by the voice of the narrator, Katarzyna Figura. We will be surprised not only by the contemporary stylings dialoguing with 18th-century costumes, but also by the wigs created for the opera Don Giovanni staged at the Teatr Wielki – National Opera.
A special highlight will be the participation of Jaga Hupało, an artist and hair stylist who works with, among others, the Teatr Wielki – National Opera in Warsaw. Once the protagonists of her performance have left the stage, she will begin to cut the hair of the event participants who have agreed to donate their hair to the Rak'n'Roll Foundation at a slow pace (below are the rules of participation in the event to benefit the Daj Włos! [Give Hair!] Programme! Rak'n'Roll Foundation) This hair will be used to create wigs for women after chemotherapy.
The performative project will also be accompanied by photographs by Katarzyna Figura, Mateusz Baranowski and Maja Pinczewska presenting costumes designed by students and adepts of the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts selected and chosen by Hupało as inspiration for the collection of Meissen porcelain presented at Wawel Royal Castle.
We will also see a film impression of Fragile Beauty by Jaga Hupało and Idalia Sarzyńska, captured through the eye of Bartłomiej Wasilewski's camera with music by Robert Nizinski and Marek Ołdak to texts of Piotr Sarzyński read by Katarzyna Figura. In the film, the boundary between reality and the world of art enclosed in the showcases of the Porcelain Cabinet and "Magnificence of Rococo" exhibitions is blurred. The work, inspired by the Wawel exhibitions and starring acclaimed actors – among others Olgierd Łukaszewicz, Jolanta Litwin-Sarzyńska, Agnieszka Podsiadlik and Sebastian Łach – was produced at Wawel. They will be seen on 21 and 22 September in the space in front of the entrance to the Porcelain Cabinet exhibition.
RULES FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE SOCIAL ACTION FOR THE RAK'N'ROLL FOUNDATION – “Daj Włos!” [Give Hair!] PROGRAMME
at approx. 1:45 PM
at approx. 1:45 PM
- Fill out the statement online: www.daj-wlos.pl
- May your gift be beautiful and wise. Give (Good!) Hair
Read the five rules of hair donation: www.raknroll.pl/dajwlos/
"Points of VISION" | Musical sculpture making workshop
PLACE: in front of the model of Wawel Hill, next to the ticket office building – free entry
Target audience: adults and young people aged 16 and over
Please note: Places are limited; please book your place via the form available on the website.
The workshop will be led by the Małe Instrumenty [Small Instruments] group, who will create an unusual spatial musical sculpture together with the participants. The work will consist of combining instrumental modules, and the result will be a solid with shapes resulting from the orientation in space and the imagination of the blind artists. We will perform our own songs at the end of the workshop.
The meeting is being held as part of the Points of VISION Project.
September 22 | Sunday
- 1 PM – Comedy dell'arte "The Inn at the Broken Penny"
- 6 PM – "Points of VISION"– "Invisible instruments" – sound installation/concert
PLACE: The Envoys Hall (3rd floor of the Castle) – free entry
Recipients: for everyone
Please note: Limited number of places, please reserve your place using the form available on the website.
Based on the description, designs and technical drawings were created, followed by prototypes. They are currently used to perform music by the Małe Instrumenty [Small Instruments] group.
The meeting is being held as part of the Points of VISION Project.
Events as part of the 'Beautiful 18th Century' programme at the Royal Castle have been co-financed by:
Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Cultural Promotion Fund
Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Cultural Promotion Fund
Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
