New generation of poster boys emerges in Poland

Poland has always had a strong relationship with design. The ‘Polish School of Posters’ with its combination of vivid colours, folk art scenes, slogans and popular symbols gained fame throughout the 50s to the 80s and had a close association with the country’s emerging culture. For many years there wasn't a film, concert, theatre premiere, festival or other public event without an accompanying poster. The designers often put emphasis on their personal and emotional involvement with the subjects they illustrated with the result that the Polish School of Posters had a great influence on the development of international graphic design in poster art.

One of the most prolific graphic artists from this group was, of course, Waldemar Świerzy who created over 2500 posters. Świerzy is now a professor at The Academy of Fine Arts in Poland where many current designers, among them Mirosław Adamczyk, have completed his renowned Graphic and Poster Design course.

Edgar Bąk (Эдгар Бонк), Mamastudio (Мамастудыя) (l-r)

Now Adamczyk, among others is reviving the traditions of the ‘Polish School of Posters’ but with a personal, modern spin. It is this influence that has led to him to contribute to the Dialogue Design festival, due to open on September 9th in Minsk, Belarus. The theme of the festival is featured in the title – Dialogue. It refers to an ongoing cultural exchange between Polish and neighbouring Belarusian artists.

Video still from Paweł Janicki

Dedicated to the art of the poster and graphic signage the festival explores the relationships between different art disciplines and techniques – graphic, music and animation.  One of the festival highlights includes an interactive installation. Parts of the gallery floor have been covered with a reactive surface sensitive to movement that allows visitors to control typographical, image and sound elements. The installation video has been created by Paweł Janicki using specially adapted software, and can be previewed here. 

For more information on and the full schedule of the festival visit Dialogue Design and the Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA).