The breath

Niepokorny (Defiant) is the title of the exhibition dedicated to the eminent Polish sculptor Xawery Dunikowski, showcasing his most notable and famous works against the backdrop of the narrative of major creative stages in the artist's life. The exhibition celebrates 30 years of activity on the part of the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko Exhibition curator Joanna Torchała refers to the words of a critical member of Młoda Polska (Young Poland) - Eligiusz Niewiadomski - to describe Dunikowski's style: Without a word of encouragement, nor a single applause and hunted by stupidly hostile glances given from the crowd, Dunikowski, with genuinely contempt praise and reprimand lurking over him, swims against and fights the current, making his own true art in spite of the feelings and attitudes of the social environment surrounding him. Dunikowski was certainly a rebellious and defiant artist. In every stage of his extensive creative life, he surprised and shocked the audience. He was mentally and psychologically by far ahead of the era in which he worked. His works were known as 'Plaster Monsters' while the creator himself was separated from the common worship and faith pursued by fellow Poles. During the period of Young Poland, he demonstrated a lot of symbolic sculptural groups, such as Tchnienie / A Breath of Air, Jarzmo / Yoke, Macierzyństwo / Motherhood and Fatum / Fate - which were all regarded upon as twisted and bizarre epithets.