Amber is my life's passion – a conversation with Lucjan Myrta

From July 6th, the Kubicki Arcades are hosting an exhibition of works by Lucjan Myrta, a renowned Gdańsk amber master awarded the Gloria Artis Medal for significant contributions to culture. We discuss present and planned exhibitions, a new perspective on amber, and the world's largest amber collection.

Is this your first exhibition in Warsaw?

So, I consider this invitation all the more a special honour. It came about on the recommendation of Professor Władysław Bartoszewski, who patronised my two previous exhibitions in Neuenstadt in 2005 and at Wawel Castle in 2007. The idea of charity guided me in organising the Warsaw exhibition: admission is free. I was keen to show a wide audience how much can be done with amber. And that utilitarian art made of amber is not just works by masters from 300 years ago.
Although I am happy to refer to Gdańsk's golden age, I am increasingly moving away from viewing amber as a material for decorative objects: caskets, dishes or candelabra. I am looking for another way and method of conveying different ideas with its help, focusing mainly, however, on painting with amber. I fell in love with its colour palette and – as the Russians say – landscape. This is clearly visible in the example of the "Bird Paradise" cabinet, where I made use of amber's virtually unlimited colour possibilities. And then I thought that they are greater than even the richest palette of paints. I am currently fascinated by abstraction and contemporary art. Perhaps this is how things are meant to progress...?

…mastering ancient amber crafting techniques to perfection, to ultimately pay homage to contemporary art?

I remember the Hermitage set, which consisted of candlesticks and a clock, as well as Maucher's casket, which I restored on behalf of the Castle Museum in Malbork – it was an incredible artisanal challenge for me. Because how can you create without mastering your craft? For some time now, I have become more interested in contemporary art and have discovered an area that has been largely unknown to me until now.

Is this new direction represented at the exhibition?

There will be new still-life paintings as well as contemporary abstract paintings. However, due to architectural limitations – the display cases are 1 m wide – I will only show some of the exhibits at the opening on 16th July in the Arcade hall.

I'm curious, why are you so often inspired by existing works by more or less famous old masters?

Because each time it's a huge challenge for me. I believe that reproducing works – especially those of old masters – teaches humility. What's more, in my opinion, everyone should try reproduction first, so that they can then go their own way. I also treat these inspirations as a form of respect for the great masters. Works, even if created from inspiration, are never just pure reproduction in my case – they require creative inventiveness and great technical skill. I undertook the creation of the Adrianna amber box because of its unlimited colour palette and the delicacy of the material. During the work, I had to overcome certain technological barriers: the old masters made wooden walls, while I make self-supporting ones. A good example here is also the Treasury, which „got out of hand” during the 12 years of work. I started with the original, which was 2 metres wide, and then I tried to maintain the proportions. When I started, I didn't know what the finished work would look like. However, it is not a copy in any way – it is unique both in form and content. For me, the hero has always been amber, used as a form of communication. The Amber Treasury is a story about the greatest of men, about the carpenter from Nazareth, about how he taught and healed.

And where did this love for monumental works come from?

Anyone who works with amber dreams of a large lump. Wouldn't it be a sin to make small objects from large, beautiful pieces? I put aside the most beautiful and largest lumps to capture their uniqueness. Mauchera's casket, Adrianna, Ewelina – they are only a few percent larger than the originals. So where's the monumentalism? I already have the first comments on my exhibition in Warsaw: in the interiors of the Kubicki Arcades, everything has been miniaturised!

It is said that your amber collection is the largest in the world.

And so it is! I've been collecting it for 40 years. In the book by Dr. Alfred Rhode, the pre-war director of the Prussian Museum in Königsberg, there is a list of almost all large amber artefacts – and that is precisely the scale of comparison. My collection should be viewed as a collection of caskets or inclusion specimens, as well as objects made from large chunks – not in terms of the quantity of exhibits gathered. I collect them not to boast, but because it is my life's passion.

How do you assess the past 41 years of work?

It's difficult for me to talk about my own achievements. The Bible says: „Let others praise you, and not your own lips” - so I leave it to others to judge. My work gives me immense satisfaction. Especially when I see the reactions of people visiting my exhibitions – believe me, sometimes they are truly deep, unhidden emotions. You just need to read the entries in the guest books, for example: „We left better than we arrived” or „I've travelled the world, but I didn't realise something like this existed”, and „If the Germans had such a treasure, the whole world would know about it”. So, it works! The beauty of amber and the vast amount of work put into creating these objects lead to positive reflection. Guest books accompany every one of my exhibitions. And I keep them all.

What will be the next stops for this exhibition?

A large part of the collection is housed at the Royal Castle in Warsaw and will remain there until August. It is expected that it will then return to Sopot, before travelling once more to Neuenstadt in Germany at the beginning of October, where Hubert Sawatzki, the director of Museum im Schafstall, intends to organise the exhibition of his life. The opening will be conducted by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Bogdan Zdrojewski, and the German Minister of Culture, Bernd Neumann. The Polish Minister has assumed patronage over all three exhibitions: in Warsaw, Neuenstadt, and Krakow. In the summer of 2010, the exhibition returns to Wawel Castle to coincide with the celebrations of the Chopin Year. We shall see how its future unfolds. Discussions are currently underway with the city of Sopot regarding the display of this exhibition at the Haffner Centre. Perhaps a foundation will be established to organise exhibitions and assist in the global promotion of amber.
Meanwhile, an finished English cabinet, 4.03m in height, can be seen in the hall of the Gdynia City Museum until October. I am also currently finishing a Gdańsk cabinet, which will most likely also be shown at the exhibition opening in Warsaw. The cycle of paintings „Women of My Life”, meaning my mother, daughters, and wife, will also be shown there.

More information:
www.myrtaamberart.com