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Karol Broniatowski. Presence and Absence in Sculpture

Karol Broniatowski, exhibition in the Willy-Brandt-Haus, Berlin 1998.
©
Werner Zellien

From Oskar Kokoschka’s triptych “Thermopylae” (1954) all the way to Markus Lüpertz‘ “Beethoven” (2014) the monumentalisation of the human figure has been the central theme in post-war art. Whilst artists in Western and Eastern Germany were still trying to rid themselves of the shadow of the past by means of old and new myths, a Polish sculptor in Berlin succeeded in throwing a light on a more fundamental form of knowledge. In 1976 Karol Broniatowski created “Big Man”, an 18 metre high figure – it only exists as a design – only a few of whose 93 parts were realised, and are now scattered all over the world. Sculpture was turned into concept art. Broniatowski is still creating deeply innovative works of figurative sculpture: positive and negative forms, mass figures and graphic projections, imposingly present figures and the complete absence of figurative form.

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Media library
  • ill. 1a: Newspaper Figures - Newsprint, polyester. Diploma exhibition, Antresola, Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw.
  • ill. 1b: Newspaper Figures - Part to the right of 1a.
  • ill. 1c: While working on the newsprint figures - At the Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw.
  • ill. 2: Newsprint figures, photographed in Warsaw-Radość - Newsprint, polyester, height 175 cm.
  • ill. 3a: Newspaper Figures - Exhibition Biuro Wystaw Artystycznych in Lublin.
  • ill. 3b: At the Venice Biennale - Exhibition of newsprint figures.
  • ill. 4: Big Man - Project Drawing, in: Big Man exhibition catalogue, Neuer Berliner Kunstverein.
  • ill. 5: Big Man, Fragment 1: Newspaper and granite - 9 packages, each containing 100 daily newspapers. Height: 17-24 cm. Impala granite, height 4.5-9 cm, exhibited in the Berliner Kunstverein.
  • ill. 6: II. Presentation of Big Man - Bronze, wooden board, 103 x 103 x 10 cm.
  • ill. 7: III. Presentation of Big Man - Performance "Knocking Game" in the Plastyka Cathedral, Warsaw.
  • ill. 8: Performance “Tool”, 1979 - Muzeum Sztuki, Łódź 1979.
  • ill. 9: Figure (can be assembled and dismantled) - Bronze, height: 42 cm.
  • ill. 10a: Self-portrait in twelve stages - Bronze, height 16-28 cm.
  • ill. 10b: Self-portrait in twelve stages - Bronze, height 25 cm.
  • ill. 11: Europa-Center competition - 2nd prize for the idea for Breitscheidplatz, Berlin.
  • ill. 12a: Prince Albrecht Palace competition - Design of the future memorial site, Berlin. Purchase of the design.
  • ill. 12b: Prince Albrecht Palace competition 2 - In collaboration with the architects Bangert, Jansen, Scholz, Schultes.
  • ill. 13: Kurfürstendamm competition - 1st place for the idea for the square design Kurfürstendamm/Joachimsthaler Straße, Berlin.
  • ill. 14: Römerberg sculpture project - Competition for a large sculpture on the Römerberg in Frankfurt, which is to be redeveloped.
  • ill. 15a: Fountain with three bronze sculptures - On Franz-Neumann-Platz, Berlin-Reinickendorf. Granite, bronze.
  • ill. 15b: Fountain on Franz-Neumann-Platz - Detail.
  • ill. 15c: Fountain on Franz-Neumann-Platz - Top view.
  • ill. 16: Series of pillars at the Albert Einstein Grammar School - Berlin-Neukölln, 9 pillars, concrete, height 80 to 650 cm.
  • ill. 17a: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin - Berlin-Grunewald S-Bahn station. Concrete, height: 300 cm, width: 200 cm, depth: 80-150 cm.
  • ill. 17b: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin - Detailed view.
  • ill. 17c: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin - Detailed view 2.
  • ill. 18: Striding Figure II - Bronze, height 190 cm.
  • ill. 19: Nude II - Bronze, height: 113 cm.
  • ill. 20: Nude III - Bronze, height 147 cm.
  • ill. 21: Nude IV - Bronze, height 127 cm.
  • ill. 22: Iris - Bronze, height: 75 cm. Exhibition in the Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Zachęta, Warsaw.
  • ill. 23: Group 93 - (Small striding figures) Bronze, height 23 to 30 cm.
  • ill. 24: Foot in Bendern - Courtyard of the LGT Bank in Bendern/Liechtenstein, bronze, height: 515 cm.
  • ill. 25: Circle - Gouache, 110 x 103 cm.
  • ill. 26: Four red female figures - Gouache, 110 x 137 cm.
  • ill. 27: View of the exhibition - Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Zachęta, Warsaw.
  • ill. 28: Newspaper figures from 1975 - The exhibition featured works from 1969-1999.
  • ill. 29: Newspaper figures from 1975 - Details. The exhibition "Karol Broniatowski. Works from 1969-1999"
  • Karol Broniatowski's memorial to the deported Jews of Berlin - Film by Liu Ke.

    Karol Broniatowski's memorial to the deported Jews of Berlin

    Film by Liu Ke.
ill. 1a: Newspaper Figures - Newsprint, polyester. Diploma exhibition, Antresola, Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw.
ill. 1a: Newspaper Figures
ill. 1a: Newspaper Figures - Newsprint, polyester. Diploma exhibition, Antresola, Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 1b: Newspaper Figures - Part to the right of 1a.
ill. 1b: Newspaper Figures
ill. 1b: Newspaper Figures - Part to the right of 1a. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 1c: While working on the newsprint figures - At the Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw.
ill. 1c: While working on the newsprint figures
ill. 1c: While working on the newsprint figures - At the Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 2: Newsprint figures, photographed in Warsaw-Radość - Newsprint, polyester, height 175 cm.
ill. 2: Newsprint figures, photographed in Warsaw-Radość
ill. 2: Newsprint figures, photographed in Warsaw-Radość - Newsprint, polyester, height 175 cm. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 1a: Newspaper Figures
Newsprint, polyester. Diploma exhibition, Antresola, Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw.
ill. 1b: Newspaper Figures
Part to the right of 1a.
ill. 1c: While working on the newsprint figures
At the Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw.
ill. 2: Newsprint figures, photographed in Warsaw-Radość
Newsprint, polyester, height 175 cm.
ill. 3a: Newspaper Figures - Exhibition Biuro Wystaw Artystycznych in Lublin.
ill. 3a: Newspaper Figures
ill. 3a: Newspaper Figures - Exhibition Biuro Wystaw Artystycznych in Lublin. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 3b: At the Venice Biennale - Exhibition of newsprint figures.
ill. 3b: At the Venice Biennale
ill. 3b: At the Venice Biennale - Exhibition of newsprint figures. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 4: Big Man - Project Drawing, in: Big Man exhibition catalogue, Neuer Berliner Kunstverein.
ill. 4: Big Man
ill. 4: Big Man - Project Drawing, in: Big Man exhibition catalogue, Neuer Berliner Kunstverein. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 5: Big Man, Fragment 1: Newspaper and granite - 9 packages, each containing 100 daily newspapers. Height: 17-24 cm. Impala granite, height 4.5-9 cm, exhibited in the Berliner Kunstverein.
ill. 5: Big Man, Fragment 1: Newspaper and granite
ill. 5: Big Man, Fragment 1: Newspaper and granite - 9 packages, each containing 100 daily newspapers. Height: 17-24 cm. Impala granite, height 4.5-9 cm, exhibited in the Berliner Kunstverein. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 3a: Newspaper Figures
Exhibition Biuro Wystaw Artystycznych in Lublin.
ill. 3b: At the Venice Biennale
Exhibition of newsprint figures.
ill. 4: Big Man
Project Drawing, in: Big Man exhibition catalogue, Neuer Berliner Kunstverein.
ill. 5: Big Man, Fragment 1: Newspaper and granite
9 packages, each containing 100 daily newspapers. Height: 17-24 cm. Impala granite, height 4.5-9 cm, exhibited in the Berliner Kunstverein.
ill. 6: II. Presentation of Big Man - Bronze, wooden board, 103 x 103 x 10 cm.
ill. 6: II. Presentation of Big Man
ill. 6: II. Presentation of Big Man - Bronze, wooden board, 103 x 103 x 10 cm. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 7: III. Presentation of Big Man - Performance "Knocking Game" in the Plastyka Cathedral, Warsaw.
ill. 7: III. Presentation of Big Man
ill. 7: III. Presentation of Big Man - Performance "Knocking Game" in the Plastyka Cathedral, Warsaw. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 8: Performance “Tool”, 1979 - Muzeum Sztuki, Łódź 1979.
ill. 8: Performance “Tool”, 1979
ill. 8: Performance “Tool”, 1979 - Muzeum Sztuki, Łódź 1979. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 9: Figure (can be assembled and dismantled) - Bronze, height: 42 cm.
ill. 9: Figure (can be assembled and dismantled)
ill. 9: Figure (can be assembled and dismantled) - Bronze, height: 42 cm. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 6: II. Presentation of Big Man
Bronze, wooden board, 103 x 103 x 10 cm.
ill. 7: III. Presentation of Big Man
Performance "Knocking Game" in the Plastyka Cathedral, Warsaw.
ill. 8: Performance “Tool”, 1979
Muzeum Sztuki, Łódź 1979.
ill. 9: Figure (can be assembled and dismantled)
Bronze, height: 42 cm.
ill. 10a: Self-portrait in twelve stages - Bronze, height 16-28 cm.
ill. 10a: Self-portrait in twelve stages
ill. 10a: Self-portrait in twelve stages - Bronze, height 16-28 cm. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 10b: Self-portrait in twelve stages - Bronze, height 25 cm.
ill. 10b: Self-portrait in twelve stages
ill. 10b: Self-portrait in twelve stages - Bronze, height 25 cm. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 11: Europa-Center competition - 2nd prize for the idea for Breitscheidplatz, Berlin.
ill. 11: Europa-Center competition
ill. 11: Europa-Center competition - 2nd prize for the idea for Breitscheidplatz, Berlin. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 12a: Prince Albrecht Palace competition - Design of the future memorial site, Berlin. Purchase of the design.
ill. 12a: Prince Albrecht Palace competition
ill. 12a: Prince Albrecht Palace competition - Design of the future memorial site, Berlin. Purchase of the design. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 10a: Self-portrait in twelve stages
Bronze, height 16-28 cm.
ill. 10b: Self-portrait in twelve stages
Bronze, height 25 cm.
ill. 11: Europa-Center competition
2nd prize for the idea for Breitscheidplatz, Berlin.
ill. 12a: Prince Albrecht Palace competition
Design of the future memorial site, Berlin. Purchase of the design.
ill. 12b: Prince Albrecht Palace competition 2 - In collaboration with the architects Bangert, Jansen, Scholz, Schultes.
ill. 12b: Prince Albrecht Palace competition 2
ill. 12b: Prince Albrecht Palace competition 2 - In collaboration with the architects Bangert, Jansen, Scholz, Schultes. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 13: Kurfürstendamm competition - 1st place for the idea for the square design Kurfürstendamm/Joachimsthaler Straße, Berlin.
ill. 13: Kurfürstendamm competition
ill. 13: Kurfürstendamm competition - 1st place for the idea for the square design Kurfürstendamm/Joachimsthaler Straße, Berlin. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 14: Römerberg sculpture project - Competition for a large sculpture on the Römerberg in Frankfurt, which is to be redeveloped.
ill. 14: Römerberg sculpture project
ill. 14: Römerberg sculpture project - Competition for a large sculpture on the Römerberg in Frankfurt, which is to be redeveloped. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 15a: Fountain with three bronze sculptures - On Franz-Neumann-Platz, Berlin-Reinickendorf. Granite, bronze.
ill. 15a: Fountain with three bronze sculptures
ill. 15a: Fountain with three bronze sculptures - On Franz-Neumann-Platz, Berlin-Reinickendorf. Granite, bronze. © Public Domain
ill. 12b: Prince Albrecht Palace competition 2
In collaboration with the architects Bangert, Jansen, Scholz, Schultes.
ill. 13: Kurfürstendamm competition
1st place for the idea for the square design Kurfürstendamm/Joachimsthaler Straße, Berlin.
ill. 14: Römerberg sculpture project
Competition for a large sculpture on the Römerberg in Frankfurt, which is to be redeveloped.
ill. 15a: Fountain with three bronze sculptures
On Franz-Neumann-Platz, Berlin-Reinickendorf. Granite, bronze.
ill. 15b: Fountain on Franz-Neumann-Platz - Detail.
ill. 15b: Fountain on Franz-Neumann-Platz
ill. 15b: Fountain on Franz-Neumann-Platz - Detail. © Public Domain
ill. 15c: Fountain on Franz-Neumann-Platz - Top view.
ill. 15c: Fountain on Franz-Neumann-Platz
ill. 15c: Fountain on Franz-Neumann-Platz - Top view. © Public Domain
ill. 16: Series of pillars at the Albert Einstein Grammar School - Berlin-Neukölln, 9 pillars, concrete, height 80 to 650 cm.
ill. 16: Series of pillars at the Albert Einstein Grammar School
ill. 16: Series of pillars at the Albert Einstein Grammar School - Berlin-Neukölln, 9 pillars, concrete, height 80 to 650 cm. © Albrecht-Einstein-Gymnasium, Berlin
ill. 17a: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin - Berlin-Grunewald S-Bahn station. Concrete, height: 300 cm, width: 200 cm, depth: 80-150 cm.
ill. 17a: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin
ill. 17a: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin - Berlin-Grunewald S-Bahn station. Concrete, height: 300 cm, width: 200 cm, depth: 80-150 cm. © Marian Stefanowski
ill. 15b: Fountain on Franz-Neumann-Platz
Detail.
ill. 15c: Fountain on Franz-Neumann-Platz
Top view.
ill. 16: Series of pillars at the Albert Einstein Grammar School
Berlin-Neukölln, 9 pillars, concrete, height 80 to 650 cm.
ill. 17a: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin
Berlin-Grunewald S-Bahn station. Concrete, height: 300 cm, width: 200 cm, depth: 80-150 cm.
ill. 17b: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin - Detailed view.
ill. 17b: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin
ill. 17b: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin - Detailed view. © Porta Polonica
ill. 17c: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin - Detailed view 2.
ill. 17c: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin
ill. 17c: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin - Detailed view 2. © Porta Polonica
ill. 18: Striding Figure II - Bronze, height 190 cm.
ill. 18: Striding Figure II
ill. 18: Striding Figure II - Bronze, height 190 cm. © Marian Stefanowski
ill. 19: Nude II - Bronze, height: 113 cm.
ill. 19: Nude II
ill. 19: Nude II - Bronze, height: 113 cm. © Marian Stefanowski
ill. 17b: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin
Detailed view.
ill. 17c: Memorial to the Jews deported from Berlin
Detailed view 2.
ill. 18: Striding Figure II
Bronze, height 190 cm.
ill. 19: Nude II
Bronze, height: 113 cm.
ill. 20: Nude III - Bronze, height 147 cm.
ill. 20: Nude III
ill. 20: Nude III - Bronze, height 147 cm. © Marian Stefanowski
ill. 21: Nude IV - Bronze, height 127 cm.
ill. 21: Nude IV
ill. 21: Nude IV - Bronze, height 127 cm. © Marian Stefanowski
ill. 22: Iris - Bronze, height: 75 cm. Exhibition in the Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Zachęta, Warsaw.
ill. 22: Iris
ill. 22: Iris - Bronze, height: 75 cm. Exhibition in the Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Zachęta, Warsaw. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 23: Group 93 - (Small striding figures) Bronze, height 23 to 30 cm.
ill. 23: Group 93
ill. 23: Group 93 - (Small striding figures) Bronze, height 23 to 30 cm. © Marian Stefanowski
ill. 20: Nude III
Bronze, height 147 cm.
ill. 21: Nude IV
Bronze, height 127 cm.
ill. 22: Iris
Bronze, height: 75 cm. Exhibition in the Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Zachęta, Warsaw.
ill. 23: Group 93
(Small striding figures) Bronze, height 23 to 30 cm.
ill. 24: Foot in Bendern - Courtyard of the LGT Bank in Bendern/Liechtenstein, bronze, height: 515 cm.
ill. 24: Foot in Bendern
ill. 24: Foot in Bendern - Courtyard of the LGT Bank in Bendern/Liechtenstein, bronze, height: 515 cm. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 25: Circle - Gouache, 110 x 103 cm.
ill. 25: Circle
ill. 25: Circle - Gouache, 110 x 103 cm. © Marian Stefanowski
ill. 26: Four red female figures - Gouache, 110 x 137 cm.
ill. 26: Four red female figures
ill. 26: Four red female figures - Gouache, 110 x 137 cm. © Marian Stefanowski
ill. 27: View of the exhibition - Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Zachęta, Warsaw.
ill. 27: View of the exhibition
ill. 27: View of the exhibition - Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Zachęta, Warsaw. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 24: Foot in Bendern
Courtyard of the LGT Bank in Bendern/Liechtenstein, bronze, height: 515 cm.
ill. 25: Circle
Gouache, 110 x 103 cm.
ill. 26: Four red female figures
Gouache, 110 x 137 cm.
ill. 27: View of the exhibition
Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Zachęta, Warsaw.
ill. 28: Newspaper figures from 1975 - The exhibition featured works from 1969-1999.
ill. 28: Newspaper figures from 1975
ill. 28: Newspaper figures from 1975 - The exhibition featured works from 1969-1999. © Karol Broniatowski
ill. 29: Newspaper figures from 1975 - Details. The exhibition "Karol Broniatowski. Works from 1969-1999"
ill. 29: Newspaper figures from 1975
ill. 29: Newspaper figures from 1975 - Details. The exhibition "Karol Broniatowski. Works from 1969-1999" © Karol Broniatowski
Karol Broniatowski
Karol Broniatowski's memorial to the deported Jews of Berlin
Karol Broniatowski's memorial to the deported Jews of Berlin
ill. 28: Newspaper figures from 1975
The exhibition featured works from 1969-1999.
ill. 29: Newspaper figures from 1975
Details. The exhibition "Karol Broniatowski. Works from 1969-1999"
Karol Broniatowski's memorial to the deported Jews of Berlin
Film by Liu Ke.
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Karol Broniatowski. Presence and Absence in Sculpture
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Karol Broniatowski, exhibition in the Willy-Brandt-Haus, Berlin 1998.
Karol Broniatowski, exhibition in the Willy-Brandt-Haus, Berlin 1998.
©
Werner Zellien

If we survey his closely intertwined themes, Broniatowski’s work is remarkable, not only in the context of Polish and German sculpture but also in an international context. It reflects and interprets not only neighbouring artistic genres like Performance art, Concept art, Arte Povera, Minimal Art, photography, drawing, urban design, art in public spaces, and fundamental problems related to memorials and memory culture. But it also offers answers to basic problems of sculpture: how to design masses of people in a sculptural form; how to reproduce them in positive as well as negative forms, all the way to a complete lack of form; how to project them on surfaces; how to show the influence of antique art on the Modern; and how to make a work of art interact with the person observing it.

Axel Feuß, June 2016

 

Further reading:

Karol Broniatowski. Big Man, Exhibition catalogue published by the Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin 1976

Andrzej Osęka / Wojciech Skrodzki: Polnische Bildhauerkunst der Gegenwart. German edition, Warsaw 1977

Karol Broniatowski, Exhibition catalogue published by the Deplana-Kunsthalle, Berlin 1984

Karol Broniatowski. Prace z lat 1969-1999, Exhibition catalogue published by the Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Zachęta, Warsaw 1999 (Polish/German)

Tür an Tür. Polen - Deutschland. 1000 Jahre Kunst und Geschichte, edited by Małgorzata Omilanowska, Exhibition catalogue published by the Berliner Festspiele, Berlin, Cologne 2011, pp. 612, 663

Karol Broniatowski. Gouachen, Exhibition catalogue published by the Polish Institute, Berlin 2012

Karol Broniatowski, exhibition in the Willy-Brandt-Haus, Berlin 1998.
©
Werner Zellien
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