”Kilian for Children” EXHIBITION - from 17 October to 30 November 2014.

9. Baltic Meetings of Illustrators

The Baltic Sea Cultural Centre gallery is hosting an exhibition of illustrations, stage designs and puppets created by Adam Kilian. This versatile artist successfully combines various branches of art: he has designed stage scenery for over 300 theatre and television performances, as well as the unforgettable Jacek and Agatka characters; he is the author of more than 50 children's books, more than 70 animated films, as well as TV stage designs and poster and postcard designs.

The illustrations compiled for the exhibitions have been sourced from well-known books, such as: “The Wawel Dragon”, “Pyza on Polish Paths” by Hanna Januszewska, “Troubles of Kacperek the Dwarf” by Zofia Kossak, “Mechanical Fairy Tale” by Jerzy Ławicki, “Little Concerks” by Jan Sztaudynger, “Bears Want to Sleep” by Ludwik Górski or “Denerwujek” by Jerzy Ficowski.

The puppets displayed on the exhibition come from performances that have achieved a place in the canon of world puppet theatre, such as “A Tale of Zwyrtal the Musician” directed by Jan Wilkowski, or “Troubles of Kacperek the Dwarf” directed by Jarosław Kilian.

Some puppets have been recreated especially for our exhibition, so the children visiting the BSCC can play with them and discover the arcana of puppet animation.

An older generation of visitors may nostalgically recall the cartoons of their childhood – ”Jacek and Agatka” or “Wanders of Pyza”, shown together with the exhibition.

The illustrations, greetings cards, designs and puppets demonstrate the craftsmanship, broad range of illustration techniques and favourite motifs of Adam Kilian.

According to the Artist, his main sources of inspiration include folk art and creations of children, whose “force of shortcut, power of poetic metaphor, synthetic form and humour” he considers unrivalled. Humour plays an enormously important role in his art. “You can cut the joy of life out of a stick” is a favourite motto of Adam Kilian, Knight of the Order of the Smile.

The exhibits have been loaned by Lalka Theatre in Warsaw and the illustrations have been selected from private collections of Adam and Jarosław Kilian.

Open daily (except 15 and 16 November) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free admission.

It is accompanied by workshops for children and young people and publications: a compendium of information on puppet theatre for the youngest ones and a book about Adam Kilian's art.

Blog about Meetings of Illustrators

Project subsidised by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and City of Gdańsk.