Jan Lebenstein - Seeing the World

1 Juy - 1 September 2013

JAN LEBENSTEIN - SEEING THE WORLD
works from the collection of Maria and Marek Pilecki

Jan Lebenstein is a well-known and recognized artist throughout the world - painter, printmaker, draftsman. He exhibited his works in the most prestigious galleries, including those in Paris, Rome, New York, Brussels, Berlin and Copenhagen. He has participated in major international art surveys: Documenta in Kassel, the Venice Biennale and the Biennale in Sao Paulo.

The presentation of his work at the Museum of Caricature can arouse surprise, but ...

The artist's work is very suitable for an exhibition at the museum of caricature. Not only is he the author of powerful political caricatures (not a very well known fact) but all his mature works are an amazing, distorted reflection of reality. Jan Lebenstein reality is full of half-human, half-animal terrifying, sometimes repulsive, creatures. They reflect the absurdity of existance. The artists notices all the weaknesses and flaws that are inherent attributes of humans. He extracts them mercilessly from the so-called decency, which is often merely a learned convention, instilled by education and upbringing, but it's not a real face of humanity. He does not accept the heros of his works. He mocks and exposes them, invades their intimacy, but never offends them. It is his satirical view of our world and it is the satire of the highest quality. Anthropomorphism, impersonation - they create an illusion of a metaphorical climate, which on closer inspection turns out to be the climate of the world we know very well from our personal experience. Thanks to the artist this world becomes unique.

It is an exhibition which fascinates and makes one reflect on the misery of our world.

The exhibition "Jan Lebenstein. Seeing the World "presents caricatures, drawings and prints, including works from the "Bestiary" and "Figury osiowe".

The works come from the private collection of Maria and Marek Pilecki. It is one of the largest and most interesting private collections of works by Jan Lebenstein. Only part of it is shown at this exhibition. I would like to thank the owners of the collection for their contribution.

Zygmunt Zaradkiewicz
Director of the Museum of Caricature

Jan Lebenstein was born on January 5, 1930 in Brześć nad Bugiem (now Belarus).

After his father was murdered by the Germans he fled with his mother, escaping the Red Army which was occupying those areas.

He graduated from the Art School in Warsaw and the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. Received his diploma in 1954 in the studio of Artur Nacht-Samborski. His works included paintings, drawings and prints. He made his debut in 1954 at an exhibition of Warsaw artists in Warsaw. Member of the "Arsenal" - the historical manifestation of the release of art from ideology and politics. He had his first exhibition in 1956, at the Teatr na Tarczyńskiej, under the auspices of a friend, the poet Miron Białoszewski.

Awarded the Grand Prix at the first Biennale of Young Artists in Paris in 1959. As consequence of this award the invitations to take part in other exhibitions followed (including the museums in Amsterdam, Stedelijk and the Museum of Modern Art in Stockholm). He was also invited to participate in major international art surveys: Documenta in Kassel, the Venice Biennale and the Biennale in Sao Paulo. After receiving the scholarship from the French in 1959, he settled in Paris. His friends included Czesław Miłosz, Gustaw Herling-Grudziński, Konstanty Jeleński. In the years 1963-1965 he created a series of paintings "Bestiary". Between 1979 and 1981 he illustrated the Book of Job, and from 1983 to 1985 illustrated the Apocalypse of St. John, translated by Czeslaw Milosz. He also illustrated literary works by Herling-Grudziński, Miłosz and Wat. His painterly imagination was inspired by Animal Farm, which resulted in a series of excellent illustrations created between 1973-1975.

Drawings and gouaches of Jan Lebenstein were shown in Poland for the first time at the Museum of the Archdiocese of Warsaw in 1986, and he had an individual exhibition presenting all his works in Zachęta in Warsaw in 1992.

In 1998 Lebenstein was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.

Died in Krakow, 28 May 1999. He was buried at Warsaw Powązki.