Stanislaw Szukalski

Konferencijos pranešimas skirtas originaliai ir prieštaringai lenkų dailės asmenybei, skulptoriui, tapytojui ir piešėjui Stanislawui Szukalskiui (1893-1987), didžiąją savo gyvenimo dalį praleidusiam užsienyje, už Atlanto. Šio menininko kūryba nepateko į Lietuvos tyrinėtojų regos lauką, todėl straipsnyje siekiama supažindinti su garsaus lenkų kilmės dailininko asmenybe, kūryba, detaliau pristatyti 1926 m. Vilniuje pirmąja premija apdovanotą Szukalskio sukurtą Adomo Mickevičiaus paminklo projektą, aptarti jį lydėjusią miesto visuomenės reakciją bei atgarsį to meto Vilniaus spaudos puslapiuose.The article presents one of the most unique figures of Polish art. The sculptor, painter and drawer Stanislaw Szukalski (1893-1987) spent the greatest part of his Hfe abroad across the Atlantic. Creative legacy of this artist has so far remained beyond the field of investigation of Lithuanian art researchers, and the article presents an introduction into his life and art, with a focus on his design for the monument to Adam Mickiewicz, awarded the first prize in Vilnius in 1926. The reception of the design by Vilnius public and its press is discussed separately. The artist paid only one short visit to Vilnius in winter of 1927 on invitation of the then jury chair Ferdynand Ruszczyc when he came to coordinate the plans for putting up the sculpture. The article resorts to all accessible materials and sources; articles and insights by the Polish art researchers Lechoslaw Lamenski, Piotr Szubert, Dorota Chudzicka, a comprehensive catalogue of the artist's legacy and impressive visual material selected by a Warsaw based artist's relative Roman Romanowicz, Vilnius period press, the diary of the artist and the documents of the commission for the construction of the monument to Mickiewicz from the Lithuanian Central State Archives. Szukalski established himself in Polish art as uncompromising artist dedicated to the national sentiment. He challenged, with his art, his contemporary society and radically stood for his ideal in defiance of the public opinion. His art embraced and intertwined patriotism and nationalistic views, cosmopolitan ideas and personal mythology. His sculptures, drawings, architectural designs partook of the Secession, Symbolism, Expressionism, Futurism and other trends of modernist European art aesthetic which he enriched besides the motives from the exotic American Indian art, by his own enigmatic iconography and symbols. His award-winning design for the poet Mickiewicz stirred the otherwise stale artistic life in Vilnius. His ingenious idea rendered in an unusual and innovative form, deserved the laurels of the winner, yet the idea was never embodied. The model for the monument by the mature artist embraced Pre-Columbian and avantgarde styles and sparkled, in Vilnius press, a plebiscite on unprecedented scale