The second sculpture plein-air within the framework of the A&A European Sculpture Park will take place on the grounds of the castle in Niemodlin from 31.07-15.08.2024. The event is called: II International Sculpture Plein-Air at the Duke of Niemodlin Castle “NIEMODLIN 2024”. Last year’s, and at the same time the first edition of the sculpture plein-air, which inaugurated the opening of the European Sculpture Park in Niemodlin, proved to be quite a success. Artists from Poland, South Korea and the United Kingdom were selected to participate in the event. The works created can be admired in the garden space surrounding the castle as part of a permanent exhibition. The sculptures are very popular with visitors and enrich the area with an artistic and cultural aspect.
The sculpture park initiative itself dates back to 2011, when the A&A European Sculpture Park was established in Pabianice as one of the first in Poland. At that time, in May 2011, the first sculpture plein-air workshop was organised to open the park, and in June it was already possible to admire works by artists from Moldova, Sweden, Mexico, Italy and Poland. Over the following years, the park was enriched by more works by international artists. Currently, 18 sculptures can be admired in the park located next to the golf course. Over the years, the A&A European Sculpture Park has also been able to boast at least a few notable successes. As part of the annual exhibition, one could admire the sculptures of Magdalena Abakanowicz – the most outstanding Polish sculptor, known worldwide. The composition “Mutants” and “Head” attracted a multitude of visitors. In turn, a few years later, the weekly Polityka magazine ranked the A&A European Sculpture Park among the ’10 best sculpture parks in Polish cities’.
At the end of 2022, the idea was conceived to extend the sculpture park initiative to include the area around the Niemodlin Princely Castle in the Opole Voivodeship. At over 700 years old, the Niemodlin Ducal Castle is one of the most historically valuable, largest and most powerful castles in Poland. In turn, the park around the Niemodlin Castle, together with the arboretum in Lipno, is an integral part of the park layout created by the former owners of the Niemodlin Castle. A small area of greenery around the castle itself was transformed in the second half of the 18th century into an English-style park with interesting tree species, some of which are over a hundred years old and valuable due to their age and size.
Ducal Castle Niemodlin provides an excellent setting for sculptural art, and together with the sculpture park it forms a unique object that responds to the cultural needs of the local community, and beyond. While the display of works of art in nature is not surprising, it is impossible not to mention the permanent residents of the castle park. This is because the area is inhabited by fallow deer, which provide pleasant company when contemplating the works of art and make the space family-friendly for families with children. It turns out that a sculpture park does not have to be a typical art gallery, but can create an interesting space where art intermingles with history and the animal world.
The next sculptures will appear in the castle park in August. Artists from Poland and South Korea were selected from among the submitted applications to participate in the 2nd International Sculpture Plein-Air at the Niemodlin Castle “Niemodlin 2024”. The sculptures that will be created during the plein-air will be unveiled as part of the 3rd edition of the EtnoFestival taking place at the castle on 15.08.2024. The artists will create the sculptures partly in their studios and then refine and assemble their works in the castle space during their stay at the plein-air. Although the artists are given a great deal of creative freedom, the themes of the works are to relate to the castle and park complex in Niemodlin, or be of a local theme. Exceptionally, there will also be a model of a sculpture by Norbert Sarnecki, which will be realised and unveiled during next year’s event.
Source: www.parkrzezby.pl
Read also: Art | Sculpture | Palace| Interesting facts | Featured | whiteMAD on Instagram
