This is the fourth edition of the exhibition, jointly titled „Beauty Frozen in Time” (hosting institutions may change the title). The originators and curators from the Polish side are Sebastian Tajl and Jack Yang, who have been promoting Poland in China for many years. Also in this edition, the main theme of the jewellery section of the exhibition is the evolution of Polish amber jewellery styles from the 1970s to the present day, taking into account the great diversity of materials used in its creation. This process is documented by selected works by creators such as: Jacek Baron, Anna Betley, Paulina Binek, Bożena Bochomulska, Marcin Bogusław, Eliza and Krzysztof Bondaruk, Prof. Andrzej Boss, Sergio Boldrin (Venice, Italy), Dorota Cenecka, Sławomir Chmielewski, Bartosz Ciba, Danuta Czapnik, Katarzyna Czajkowska, Arturas Davainis, Tadeusz Dobkowski, Ludwik Dumin, Grażyna Fila, Maria Fijałkowska, Prof. Sławomir Fijałkowski, Wanda and Bogdan Frydrychowicz, Jolanta Gazda, Aleksander Gliwinski, Mariusz Gliwinski, Leszek Górski, Dorota Gulbierz, Izabela Gutowska, Andrzej Jacyszyn, Pawel Kaczynski, Wojciech Kalandyk, Tomasz Kargul, Bogusław Kołpak, Katarzyna Konieczka (fashion), Dorota Kos, Roman Kowalkowski, Andrzej Kupniewski, Przemysław and Wiesław Kus., Małgorzata Mieleszko, Margaret Podgórska, Agnieszka Nowicka, Krzysztof Nowiński (M. Nowaczyk and E. Held), Jacek Ostrowski, Elżbieta and Marek Pawłowski, Dorota Pełka, Jan Pomianowski, Eryk Popkiewicz, Olaf Popkiewicz, Bożena Przytocka, Dariusz Ptak, Edward Puchalski, Gabriela Reca, Izabela Robaczewska, Wojciech Rygało, S&A Jewellery Design, Tomasz Stangrecki, Michał Starost (fashion), Justyna Stasiewicz, Iwona Tamborska, Sława Tchórzewska, Jola Słoma & Mirek Trymbulak, Marcin Tymiński, Irena Wastag, Sławomir Wasilewski, A2 Jewellery, Marta Włodarska, Zofia Wołosz, Maja Woźniak, Dariusz Zarański.
The exhibition, in addition to showcasing the artistic craftsmanship and extraordinary imagination of Polish artists working with amber, also aims to provide the viewer with broader knowledge about the raw material itself, the history of its processing, and the place it occupies in Polish culture and tradition. The substantive content of the event has been prepared by recognised amber and jewellery experts.
The exhibition, which opened on April 30th this year, garnered immense interest right from its first few days. In the first five days, it was visited by an average of 20,000 people daily – this is the maximum number of visitors for safety reasons. Talks are currently underway about extending the exhibition by a month so that as many interested parties as possible can see it, said Sebstian Tajl, the exhibition's curator.
Promotion of Poland, Gdańsk and amber
Upon entering the exhibition space, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the formation of Baltic amber and its deposits, the variety of amber forms and colours, and extraction methods. Of particular interest to the public, especially the younger visitors, is the inclusion section. The exhibition also features replicas of tools used to work amber in Polish lands during the Middle Ages, as well as folk costumes from the Kurpie and Kashubian regions, areas where Baltic amber is most strongly present in the culture.
To emphasise amber's connections with Gdańsk, some exhibits have been presented in a setting that reflects the charm of the city's contemporary streets, which for centuries has remained a leading global centre for the production of artistic amber artefacts. The connections between contemporary Polish artisans' amber jewellery and the world of fashion are highlighted by recordings from fashion shows from selected editions of the Gdańsk Amber Look Gala accompanying the AMBERIF International Fair of Amber and Jewellery, as well as a gown designed by Michał Starost for Miss Polonia 2016.
The exhibition, dedicated to a Chinese audience and forming a part of cultural cooperation, also links the theme of Polish amber with the Middle Kingdom, notably by showcasing the Amber Road and the Silk Road, along which Baltic amber began its journey to East Asia centuries ago. This part of the exhibition is complemented by unique amber artefacts from the collection of the National Museum in Tianjin, concluded Sebastian Tajl.
„Instant and Eternity – Chwila i Wieczność“
Tianjin Museum / China
30 April – 1 August 2024
Organisers Tianjin Museum, Yunnan Province Branch, Seba Amber
Curators: Sebastian Tajl, Jack Yang
