Tadeusz Kantor in Nürnberg

Additional information:

The world premiere of “Artists should Croak“ in Nuremberg was not Kantor’s first stay in Germany. As early as 1959 he had exhibited his pictures in the Düsseldorf “Kunsthalle” and at the Documenta 2 in Kassel. In 1964 his pictures were featured at the Profile IV in Bochum. He stayed for a somewhat longer time in Baden-Baden in 1966, where he directed the play “The Cupboard” with German actors. He subsequently travelled with the play to Munich, Heidelberg, Bochum and Essen. In 1977 he had a solo exhibition in the Galerie Ricard in Nuremberg. In the same year he took part in the Documenta 6 in Kassel. Equally in 1977 he showed his “Dead Class” in Nuremberg (Alte Messehalle) and Erlangen (Theater in der Garage). In 1981 the Nuremberg Playhouse showed “Wielopole, Wielopole”. In 1986 Cricot 2 also presented the play along with “Artists should Croak” in der Theatermanufaktur in West Berlin. In the same year Tadeusz Kantor also had a solo exhibition in the Galerie Eva Poll in West Berlin. He showed his “Maszyna miłości i śmierci” (Machine of Love and Death) in 1987 as part of the “Spiel Räume” project at Documenta 8 in the State Theatre in Kassel. In 1988 Cricot 2 presented their show “Nigdy tu już nie powrócę” (I Shall Never Return Here) in the Academy of Arts in West Berlin. Two years later the Eva Poll Gallery presented an exhibition of Kantor’s drawings. His last play, directed after his death by actors from Teatr Cricot 2, was “Dzis są moje urodziny“ (Today is my Birthday). It was shown on several occasions in Germany, including at the Hebbel Theater in Berlin.

Important awards (a selection)

1976 - The special prize for “Umarła klasa” (The Dead Class) at the 17th Festival of Polish Contemporary Art in Wrocław (Breslau)

1976 - The Boy Prize for “Umarła klasa” (The Dead Class)

1977 - The Norwid critics prize for “Umarła klasa” (The Dead Class)

1978 - The first prize in Caracas for “Umarła klasa” (The Dead Class)

1978 - The Rembrandt Prize awarded by an international jury of the Goethe Foundation in Basilea for a real contribution to shaping art in our era

1980 - An OBIE awarded by the New York theatre critics in 1979 for “Umarła klasa” (The Dead Class)

1981 - A prize awarded by the Minister of Art and Culture (First Grade) for his theatre set designs

1982 - A diploma from the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of Poland for spreading Polish culture abroad

1986 - The "Targa Europea" Prize for significant representatives of culture and education (Italy)

1986 - The New York critics prize for the best Broadway performance (director and actor) for "Niech sczezną artyści" (Artists should Croak)

1989 - The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters), France

1990 - The major Cross of Merit awarded by the Federal Republic of Germany for his significant influence on contemporary art in Europe and for services to reviving culture in the Federal Republic of Germany