Norblin, who escaped Poland during the war and managed to support himself through winning huge commissions for several of India's maharajas, has not been the focus of an exhibition in Poland since the 1930s.
The artist, who ultimately emigrated to the United States, but committed suicide after he began to go blind, was a descendant of a noted French painter – Jan Norblin - who made a career in Poland in the late 18th century at the court of Princess Izabela Czartoryska, founder of the prestigious Czartoryski Museum.
The forthcoming show will bring together works from Poland, India and America. Amongst the exhibits, visitors will find portraits of Poland's pre-war elite, art deco posters, book covers, illustrations and designs for theatrical costumes. However, the real coup of the exhibition will be the Indian dimension.
Curator Anna Szlazak concluded talks this week with Maharaja Gaj Sing II of Jodphur, grandson of one of Norblin's key patrons.
Norblin took over the interior design for the vast Umaid Bhawan Palace at Jodphur, after a shipment of furniture from London firm Maples was torpedoed by the Nazis.
Aspects of the palace will be recreated for the Polish show, aided by multimedia representations.
“During the talks, the maharaja expressed his willingness to lend us four of Norblin's paintings, as well as 23 of his designs for the interiors, “ says Szlazak.
“We're extremely happy, as up until now, there was no conception of the works leaving India."
Like the palace itself, Norblin's elaborate murals were a heady blend of European Art Deco and Indian traditions.
Although Norblin's work in India was largely forgotten in Poland for several decades, Polish conservators recently began a programme of restoration at the various palaces in India, with work at Jodphur starting in 2006.
The exhibition will be launched in the south western city of Stalowa Wola, itself famed for its Art Deco architecture. The city's museum proposed the exhibition to the Ministry of Culture on account of this common Art Deco dimension. In November, the show will travel to India. (nh)
Source: PAP
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