In 2021, it was 100 years since Stefan Knapp's birth, a bigorayan of blood and bone, and at the same time an artist of the world format. His biography has been recalled many times, so it is enough to write today, that it reflects one of several typical stories of the lives of Poles whose fate was determined by World War II.
In his case, the war kicked him out of Poland. He returned to her via Siberia, with the Army of Anders wandering Asia as a RAF pilot – u, met Greece and Italy. Finally, he settled in England. He returned to his native homeland many times before his death, and to Bilgoraj as well. He left many of his works here, which include murals: at the Rectorate building of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Olsztyn or Warsaw. The most important event related to the commemoration of Stefan Knapp's 100th birthday in our town was the opening of the "Stefan Knapp 1921-2021" exhibition at the Museum of Biłgoraj Land. The exhibition was written by Maja Totany – Wal, an adjunct in the art department of the museum. Thanks to her efforts, family memorabilia were collected at the exhibition after Biligorian artist and his works. A large part of the exhibits came from members of the artist's family, including his wife running the Mid Wales Arts Gallery in Wales. Knapp's works were also imported from the National Museum in Warsaw, the National Museum in Kielce, the Silesian Museum in Katowice, the Catholic Museum of the University of Lublin. One of them was also a small enamel donated in 1967 by the author, the Museum of Biłgoraj Land and another enamel from the series of Crosses, which was donated on behalf of the artist by Stefan Knapp's family to St George's Church in Biłgoraj. The donated enamel appeared in the neighbourhood of two others with the same theme, borrowed from the previously mentioned Museum of the Catholic University of Lublin. The exhibition included all works from the museum collection.
A priceless element complementing the pronunciation of the exhibition was its catalog, to which the art historian, Stefan Knapp's son, Dr. Ivan Knapp, wrote the introduction. In his attempt to analyse his father's artistic work, he emphasized his constant need to seek out his unique way of expressing artistic research, thus eludes categorization, drawers, and the decisive role of the Biligorian world in his father's work. Interesting, and how rich, in information about the author and his work, was the text of the author of the exhibition, Ms.Mai Tocyna – Wal, who presents the facts of Stefan Knapp's life, and which the reader can first know, such as the hour of the artist's birth. It is worth getting a catalog and studying the content. At the opening of the exhibition, where many devotees of the talent of the Belarusian artist, residents of the town, who knew personally Knapp and representatives of local authorities headed by Starosta Biłgorajski, the artist's family was represented by Paweł Sokołowski and his wife. He particularly thanked the author of the exhibition, as well as the director of the museum for the great effort and determination in creating an exhibition commemorating the centennial birthday of Stefan Knapp. For his colorful speech about his relative, it was worth meeting at the museum on this special day. The addition to the organized family STEPHAN KNAPPA DURING A VISIT IN BILGORAY in 2020. One of the streets in Biłgoraj is named after the great artist Spring 7 DOBRO WS
Author:
ANDRZEJ CZACHAROWSKI Geography guide, vice president of the Biłgoraj Branch of PTTK, regionalist, co-creator of tourist routes and cycle paths, author and co-author of many books on tourist and historical topics, teacher, deputy director of Primary School No. 1 in Biłgoraj.
Source:
https://www.bck.lbl.pl/files/ck/file/tanew/2022/Tanew spring 2022.pdf
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