The exhibition by Aleksandra Sojak-Borodo in Toruń: Confronting the Past with the Present
The space of contemporary art often speaks about dialogue – between artists, between ideas and between the past and the present. This is exactly the kind of dialogue the exhibition aimed at. "Dialogue with Knapp"which took place in Toruń. This exhibition was an extraordinary opportunity to look not only at the work of Stefan Knapp, but also at the influence of his works on contemporary artists. Aleksandra Sojak-Borodo, an artist from Toruń, presented a series of works that became an artistic conversation with one of the most prominent Polish artists of the 20th century. The exhibition featured drawings, puzzles, spatial forms, as well as interactive elements that fully involved the viewer in the creative process.
All of this was a unity in the context of Stefan Knapp's work, whose works remain undervalued in Poland, despite international recognition.
Stefan Knapp – Deserved Artist, Insufficiently Rated
Stefan Knapp (1921–1996) is a character who, although known in the international world of art, remains in Poland a bit in the shadows. The artist, born in Biłgoraj, became one of the most prominent emigration visual artists of the 20th century. He was not only a painter and sculptor, but also one of the pioneers of spatial art. In his career he became famous for creating monumental wall compositions that decorated buildings in Europe and America. One of Knapp's most recognizable works in Poland is his panneau on the facade of the Aula of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. It is worth noting that this composition became part of the Toruń visual identity, separating the times of the Polish People's Republic from later years, in which it is still a symbol of modernity in the context of public art.
In Poland, Stefan Knapp also has his works in Olsztyn, where his Astronomical Composition decorated the BWA courtyard, as well as in Warsaw, where Wilanowska metro station was embellished by its spatial composition. His works are not only painting, but also reflection on the technology, technology and structure of the modern world. An artist who experienced dramatic experiences in Soviet camps, a warlike reality as a front pilot, as well as an emigration fate, in his works left traces of these experiences, translating them into the language of abstract and geometric art.
Knapp's Fascination – Generation Dialogue
Aleksandra Sojak-Borodo, a Toruń artist, has long been fascinated by the work of Stefan Knapp. On display "Dialogue with Knapp" presented a series of works that are aware of artistic conversations with Knapp's works. Sojak-Borodo, in his creative work, refers to structures, forms and colours that were present in Knapp's compositions, but at the same time interprets them again, introducing elements of interactiveity. The series was created from deep fascination with Knapp's character and his insufficient appreciation in Poland. Sojak-Borodo treats his works as a response to these deficiencies in knowledge of his work.
Moreover, the artist, in her conscious "dialogue", reached out to her own childhood memories. When she was a little girl, standing in front of the facade of Aula UMK, she was always delighted with the color composition placed in the grey, PRL reality. It was this painting that became a starting point for her work, which raises the question of how contemporary generations receive works of the artist from years ago.
Interactive Forms and Jigsaw – How does the Exhibition react to the Spectator?
Exhibition "Dialogue with Knapp" It wasn't just static exposure. The artist created works that invited viewers to interact. The drawings, puzzles and spatial forms were designed in such a way that everyone could participate actively in them. Such an approach is an expression of Sojak-Borodo's commitment to the interactive dimension of art, which fully engages the audience in the creative process, changing the traditional perception of exhibitions. In this context, "Dialogue with Knapp" it also becomes a space in which art is not only viewed but also created again, depending on how the viewer interprets it and reacts to it.
The exhibition also featured elements of dialogue in the form of decor inspired by Knapp's work. These were, among other things, blankets, cushions, images and game, which introduced the viewer to the climate of public art, but also created modern, interactive spaces. These elements made the space of the exhibition more than just a gallery – it was a place where one could feel a part of this artistic conversation, perhaps even "rediscover" what was so unique in Knapp's play.
Recollection of Stefan Knappie – Witold Sadowski and His Tale
The exhibition also featured a special guest – Witold Sadowski, a member of Stefan Knapp's family, who in his stories brought not only the artist himself, but also his fate and life. Sadowski, with great passion and respect, spoke of a man who was not only the creator but also a hero who passed through Soviet camps, war reality and emigration, without losing his artistic sensitivity. Sadowski shared his memories, which were an important background to understanding the full value of Knapp's work and its meaning in the context of contemporary art.
Credits to Organizers and Cooperation
Finally, it is worth expressing heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the implementation of the exhibition. First of all, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń and Section of Fine Arts, for organisational and spatial support that enabled this project to be implemented. The artist also thanked Oksanie Budnej, whose artwork was an integral part of the exhibition and introduced an additional aesthetic dimension.
I hope the exhibition "Dialogue with Knapp" will be an impulse for further artistic and intellectual research and will contribute to the popularization of Stefan Knapp's work, which deserves greater recognition in Poland.
The exhibition in Toruń is not only a collision between the works of two artists, but also an opportunity to reflect on the role of art in public space, the memory of the past and the importance of artistic dialogue in shaping contemporary culture.
Pawel Sokolowski, 2025
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