Prominent actor and great Silesian: monument to Franciszek Pieczka erected in his home town of Godów

A monument to Franciszek Pieczka has been erected on the square next to the primary school under his patronage. The outstanding actor came from the Silesian village of Godowo, where he found another commemoration for his contribution to Polish culture and film. The author of the sculpture is Bogumił Burzyński.

The mayor of Godowo, Mariusz Adamczyk, in agreement with the Mayor of Katowice, Marcin Krupa, initiated the erection of a monument to commemorate Franciszek Pieczka in his home town, emphasising his special respect for the outstanding actor, an honorary citizen of Godowo.

Franciszek Pieczka. Photo by Krzysztof Sielicki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“I consulted the design of the sculpture with Mr Franciszek’s family, mainly his son Piotr, during their visit to the studio. The impetus for the idea came from reading a recent interview-river by Dariusz Domanski, which was published as an album. In it, I found an answer to the question of whether he regretted something. Mr Francis stated that perhaps the fact that he had not played Hamlet…. That was a hint for me” – says Bogumił Burzyński, author of the sculpture.

The bust of the great Silesian is set on shifting granite blocks forming a composition of vertical rhythms inscribed with Franciszek Pieczka’s most important roles. The inscriptions were consulted with the family and the actor’s biographer and friend, Dariusz Domański. As the sculptor points out, this was very important to him. The inscriptions, going over the edges, soften the solid and also have an educational function. The bust with the stone blocks forms a figure – there is also a curtain and a costume with the characteristic hand gesture of Franciszek Pieczka. The mask he holds in his right hand alludes to classical, Greek theatre, to the symbol of theatre (the dramatic and comic mask), to the gesture associated with Hamlet. It is a reminder of the Actor’s life choice, highlighted by the laurel crown, a wreath he has earned through his artistry as an actor and his exemplary life.

Franciszek Maksymilian Pieczka (born 18 January 1928 in Godów, died 23 September 2022 in Warsaw) was a Polish film, theatre, television and radio actor. He was awarded, among others, the Order of the White Eagle and the Order of Polonia Restituta. He played almost 450 dramatic and comedy roles, including Gustlik in the series Czterej pancerni i pies. He worked with Krzysztof Kieślowski, Wojciech Jerzy Has, Andrzej Wajda and others. He was buried in a family grave in the Aleksandrów cemetery. The ceremonies were of a national character, attended by the President of the Republic of Poland.

Source: Bogumił Burzyński

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Subject: Outstanding actor and great Silesian: a monument to Franciszek Pieczka has been erected in his home town of Godow