Gruziński wycinek twórczości Andrzeja Strumiłły

Abstract

The work of Andrzej Strumiłło, a versatile artist, painter, photographer, designer, poet, and illustrator (considered to be of the Polish School of Illustration), was created in connection with his travels, as a result of his experiences, reflections, and inspirations. His curiosity about the world, openness, humility in the face of analyzed material and other cultures, an attempt to enter a different world, his way of thinking, emotions, poetics, and even techniques are visible both in his original works as well as in book illustrations created over several decades. Among the countries visited during his numerous journeys, both in the course of his work for the Polish Chamber of Commerce and in the course of his exhibitions and private trips, there were some to which he returned many times and which signifi cantly influenced his oeuvres, such as the countries of the Far East, and others which constitute only a small part of his oeuvre, such as Georgia. The analyzed material covers Strumiłło’s stay in Georgia as part of his work for the Polish Chamber of Commerce at the end of 1968, including a trip to a monastery, Betania, his recollection of it recorded in his diaries, poems and drawings related to Tbilisi included in the volume ”Jak” (1983), as well as illustrations for an anthology of Georgian poetry he was working on, which is also accompanied by notes in his diary on the creation of the illustrations. Also, in the case of the culture, art, and customs of Georgia, as in the case of all countries presented by the artist, there is visible a desire to understand them, as well as creative processing of thoughts and feelings, to present his image of Georgia, the Georgian soul. From his notes, illustrations, and poems, there emerges an image of the Caucasian country which the artist sees, but also perceives through the prism of his interests, and which he wants to see. This image is a mixture of his own experiences from his stay, his artistic interests, expectations, and inspirations.