For the 33rd time, the Institute of Visual Arts at the University of Zielona Góra, together with the student-run PWW Gallery, has presented the End-of-Year Exhibition showcasing the creative work of students from the fields of Interior Architecture, Graphic Design, Painting, and Visual Arts.
The Institute operates nearly 20 studios, all of which opened their doors during the exhibition to display the results of students' efforts across all years of study.
“These studios are extremely diverse – painting, multimedia, photography, comics and illustration, design, graphic arts, printmaking, and performance art. The works are shown in various forms – objects, films, performances, drawings, sculptures, and prints. It’s a space where people come with a certain passion and interest that they may not have had the opportunity to share before – and here, they find a broad community to connect and grow with. Everyone here is engaged in visual arts, though in very different ways,”
explains Dr. habil. Alicja Lewicka-Szczegóła, Professor at UZ from the Drawing and Intermedia Studio II.
The End-of-Year Exhibition is also a moment of reflection and pride for the faculty.
“Each of these summaries is an important event for us. I believe it is especially meaningful for us, the educators, as we guide the development of young artists. And I must say – perhaps not too modestly – the exhibition was excellent. I’m very satisfied because, once again, our studios demonstrated that we truly operate at a high level,” says Dr. habil. Radosław Czarkowski, Professor at UZ and Director of the Institute of Visual Arts.
The vernissage attracted families, friends, and close ones of the students. It was a unique opportunity for them to showcase their projects and share the techniques and methods they had learned during their studies.
“The standard, as always, is high. To me, a high level means that you can see the strong commitment of the students, matched to their skills. You can also observe how much they’ve grown artistically over the past year. The works are fascinating and diverse, and what’s most important – each student from every studio has their place here. That alone shows what young people are interested in and how they express themselves through art,”
summarizes Dr. habil. Barbara Literska, Professor at UZ and Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Education.
For first-year students, presenting the results of their months-long work to the public was both exciting and nerve-wracking. Amelia Schwarz, a first-year Visual Arts student and member of the “Sewing Art” Scientific Circle, presented her work in the Textiles and Dyeing Studio:
“My work focuses on earth tones and natural colors. Our creative process involved dyeing fabrics using natural dyes, like from avocado pits. We explored different techniques to treat the materials, which allowed us to achieve various patterns. These pieces show how someone expresses emotions by combining fabric scraps, choosing the right colors, and sewing them together. (…) I have a few plans for the future, but I’m still deciding which path to take. Dyeing is my passion – it's my hobby. For many people, this is primarily a means of expression. The works here clearly show that everyone expresses themselves differently, which is incredibly inspiring and motivates further growth and refinement of skills.”
You can visit the End-of-Year Exhibition at the Institute of Visual Arts, ul. Wiśniowa 10, until Friday, June 27, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This edition of the exhibition is curated by Dr. Barbara Bańda and Dr. Aleksandra Kubiak.
