M.Krawczynski & Prof.M.Kwiatkowski |
New exhibition "Orły w Karainie Kangurów" (Eagles in the Land of Kangaroos) opened at 6pm 20/7/06 in the Muzeum Wychodzstwa Polskiego im. Ignacego Jana Paderewskiego: Lazienki Krolewskie w Warszawie - Podchorazowka.
This new exhibition about Polish migration to Australia between 1772 and 1918 (Polish Independence) deals also with the interaction and contribution of Polish visitors to this country.
It has 3 stages: 1. The drama of the horrendous ocean voyage of up to 8 months, 2.The Place of arrival: colours and atmosphere of early Australia, including Aboriginal themes, 3. The struggles and achievements of the over 2,000 Poles who came to Australia by 1918.
The exhibition was opened to a packed house (in spite of the summer exodus from Warsaw) on Thursday, 20/7/06 by the Lazienki Director Prof.dr.hab. Mark Kwiatkowski. Guests included the Australian Ambassador, H.E. Ian Forsyth (official patron and sponsor of the exhibition), the Ambassador of New Zealand, H.E. Philip Griffiths, famous historian Mrs. Barbara Wachowicz and many other VIP's from cultural and government institutions.
The bishop who also attended is Ryszard Karpinski of Lublin, Head of the Polish Episcopate's Commission for Poles Abroad .There were many other VIP's, including the Director of the Bureau of Culture of the City of Warsaw, Mrs. Malgorzata Naimska and the Deputy Director, Ms. Anna Hajek. Also famous arcitect, writer and world champion swordsman Professor Wojciech Zabłocki as well Deputy Chief of the Senate, Romuald Łączkowski, plus many other artists, company directors and theatre people.
Ambassador Ian Forsyth & Prof. Marek Kwiatkowski |
The over 250 special guests listened to an introduction with original Aboriginal music and then a descriptive overview of the exhibition by the Australian Ambassador who had toured the just-finished exhibition earlier that day.
Prof. Kwiatkowski officially welcomed all the visitors and explained the origins of the Australian concept which included the post-war restoration work at Lazienki by architect Zbigniew Krawczynski (Polish emigrant from 1959), father of Mark (Polish-Australian architect) who is now the co-curator of the exhibition with Ms. Jolanta Wolska. 
Ms Jola Wolska with L.Paszkowski's book |
Huge visuals of the ocean voyage decorate the central spaces of the exhibition, while the spriritual core of the Australian section focuses on a giant picture of Uluru. There are priceless aboriginal elements which were gifted by Dr. Maksymillian Lukowicz when in the 1990's he treated sick Aborigines voluntarily in South Australia, plus a 90 year old "dynamic" piano roll recorded by Ignacy Paderewski from which excellent modern CD recordings are now made in Sydney.
Over 50 large panels of text and photos provide a wonderful insight into the early migration experience in Australia.
The colourful and dramatic scenography is already appealing to both the media and the younger generation, who we hope will gain from all this, a greater personal pride and confidence in Polish abilities both at home and abroad.
Mark Krawczynski
Chartered Architect
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