Wojciech Fangor’s mosaics in the basement of the Warsaw-Śródmieście railway station require urgent assistance. The Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments has upheld its earlier recommendations to secure and renovate the decorations as soon as possible, despite attempts by PKP S.A. to postpone the deadlines. The decision covers both immediate renovation work and full conservation planned for the coming years.
Wojciech Fangor – life and work
Wojciech Fangor (1922-2015) is one of the leading Polish artists of the 20th century. His work developed abstract painting and optical art (op-art), exploring the eye’s sensitivity to colour and space. In 1970, he became the first Polish artist to have a solo exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Fangor’s paintings are most characterised by smooth colour transitions and the effect of colour vibration. The same principles are reflected in his works outside of canvas, including the decorations in the underground section of the Śródmieście Station, where the abstract form of mosaics is combined with the functional interior.
Fangor’s mosaics and their history
The mosaic decorations were created between 1960 and 1962 as part of the interior design of the underground section of the Warszawa-Śródmieście station. The work was commissioned to the Artistic and Research Team of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, under the direction of Jerzy Sołtan and Zbigniew Ihnatowicz. Fangor developed the general concept of abstract compositions, and their implementation was entrusted to Stanisław Kucharski, Viola Damięcka and Jolanta Bieguszewska. The project was commissioned by the Railway Construction Design Office. The whole was to harmonise with the space of the station, creating a unique combination of art serving orientation. In 2020, the decorations were entered in the register of monuments.
Composition of works at the Warszawa-Śródmieście station
The mosaics consist of small ceramic tiles measuring 4 × 3 cm, made at the Faience Factory in Włocławek. The whole is divided into two main sets: ceiling mosaics above three platforms and wall mosaics placed in the gaps between travertine panels in the halls and former waiting rooms. Each composition refers to Fangor’s research on colour vibration and fluid transitions between colours. Combined with the stone elements of the station’s decor, they create an interesting space with artistic expression.
Fangor’s mosaics and their function
The mosaics also served an orientational function. Their colours indicated directions for passengers. Warm shades (reds, oranges, yellows) signified the east, while cool colours (blues, greens) signified the west. Above the central platform, the rhythm of colours transitioned from red to blue halfway along its length, marking the disembarking area.
Wojciech Fangor’s work under threat
Currently, the mosaics require urgent assistance. Some of the tiles have faded, cracked, become dirty or chipped, and the installations designed to illuminate individual elements have undergone significant modifications. In view of this, the Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments has drawn up a two-stage work plan. First, the most damaged parts of Wojciech Fangor’s work will be secured. Then, the mosaics will undergo a complete renovation, which is to take place by 1 November 2028. PKP S.A. tried to postpone the deadlines and combine the work with the renovation of the cross-city line, but the proposal was rejected as too distant for the preservation of the most valuable compositions, which require immediate action.
Source: FANGORFoundation
Photos: WUOZ inWarsaw
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