Mark Rothko exhibition opens in Warsaw

Rothko exhibition in Warsaw: photo - Leszek Szymanski

On display are Rothko’s seventeen paintings from the National Gallery of Art in Washington and archival materials, which come from the family collection of Rothko’s children, Kate and Christopher, are an important part of the display.

They include a copy of the rarely shown ‘The Graphic Bible’ by Rabbi Lewis Browne with Rothko’s drawings, some of his favourite books and LPs.

The exhibits are all assembled in an ‘antechamber’, in which visitors can listen to the music the artist listened to, often as he worked on his paintings, Mozart and Haydn being among his favourite composers.

Even though a modest exhibition, it illustrates the various stages in Rothko’s artistic development.

Agnieszka Morawinska, the director of the National Museum, is extremely happy to host what is the first ever display of Rothko’s works in Poland. She told Polish Radio English Section’s news.pl: “We don’t have many opportunities to show great artists of the twentieth century as we do not belong to the club of rich museums which exchange exhibitions and are partners for each other. We had to find an opportunity and a kind soul; with these two together, and a lot of time and work, we were able to bring the exhibition to Warsaw.”

Jay Krueger, head of painting conservation at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, who came to Warsaw for the opening of the exhibition, told us: “It’s our first loan to the National Museum of Warsaw and the fact that it’s a major exhibition is very telling. We’ve been extremely pleased with how it’s been handled from start to finish. The staff has been excellent to work with and I’m sure there will be other individual loans and exhibitions in the future.”

The exhibition is accompanied by a rich educational programme addressed to various age-groups, including children. It concludes the 150th Anniversary Year of Warsaw’s National Museum, which is being celebrated under the honorary patronage of President Bronisław Komorowski. (mk/pg)

audio report by Michal Kubicki