- Exhibition opening: March 2025
- Exhibition: March-November 2025
- Place: Złota 44, Warszawa - March 2025
- Artist: Wojciech Cieśniewski
- Curator: Dr. Grażyna Bastek & Aron Pudełko
- Invitations will be sent at the end of January 2025
“Faces of the Soul: Virtues and Sins” – Preview of an Exceptional Exhibition by Wojciech Cieśniewski
What are virtues and sins in a world where values are constantly evolving? Can traditional concepts of morality gain new meaning in contemporary times?
The exhibition “Faces of the Soul: Virtues and Sins” by Wojciech Cieśniewski takes us on an extraordinary journey into the depths of human nature, its emotions, and struggles. This project poses questions about our understanding of good and evil in a dynamically changing reality. Balancing tradition and modernity, Cieśniewski offers a fresh perspective on archetypes that have defined morality for centuries.
The Concept Behind the Exhibition
At the heart of the exhibition lies a desire to understand the human condition and redefine concepts that have long been fundamental to our perception of morality. In a world of excess and rapid change, can virtues such as courage and temperance still hold relevance? Are sins like pride or wrath still seen as negative traits, or have they become expressions of modern individuality?
Each painting in the exhibition is a unique story, deeply rooted in tradition yet in dialogue with our times. The depiction of “Wrath,” inspired by the figure of Girolamo Savonarola, illustrates inner conflict and the destructive power of emotions. Meanwhile, “Pride” intertwines rebellion with fear, giving it a contemporary reinterpretation.
A Dialogue on Values
The exhibition “Faces of the Soul” aims to create a space for reflection and conversation. In a dynamic world where traditional norms are increasingly challenged, Wojciech Cieśniewski’s art serves as a starting point for questions about our personal value systems. Can we look into the mirror placed before us by the artist and understand what modernity has done to our concepts of virtues and sins?
About the Artist
Wojciech Cieśniewski is an artist of extraordinary sensitivity and a deep understanding of human nature. As a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and a student of Rajmund Ziemski, he combines masterful painting techniques with philosophical reflection. His works capture the emotions and struggles of humanity, resonating with the daily experiences of each of us.
In his paintings, Cieśniewski draws on classical motifs and reinterprets them within a contemporary context, redefining the notions of good and evil. The exhibition “Faces of the Soul” exemplifies this approach, presenting universal themes in a way that provokes thought and encourages discussion.
Curators and Organization
This project was created by the 407 Art Foundation, whose mission is to promote art and foster reflection on contemporary values. The exhibition’s curators are Dr. Grażyna Bastek, a distinguished art historian associated with the National Museum in Warsaw, and Aron Pudełko, president of the 407 Art Foundation. Their dedication has made this project possible, blending intellectual depth with artistic refinement.
An Invitation to Reflect
“Faces of the Soul: Virtues and Sins” is an exhibition that inspires us to pause and look deeper within ourselves. Each painting is a mirror reflecting our emotions, struggles, and choices. This is not just an art exhibition but an invitation to engage in a dialogue about the values that define our times.
Join us at the exhibition and allow art to provoke reflection on who we are and where we are headed.
WOJCIECH CIEŚNIEWSKI
A painter and professor of art, Wojciech Cieśniewski was born in 1958 in Działdowo, Poland. Initially captivated by theoretical mathematics, he pursued studies in the field and earned a master’s degree from the Higher Pedagogical School in Olsztyn in 1984. During his studies, however, he discovered that the language of mathematical symbols did not allow him to express emotions.
In 1983, he began studying at the Faculty of Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. In 1988, he graduated with distinction under the tutelage of Prof. Rajmund Ziemski. Since 1990, he has been a faculty member at the academy. Between 2005 and 2012, he served as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Painting. Currently, he leads his own graduate studio.
Cieśniewski is one of Poland’s most prominent contemporary painters, with an extensive artistic and intellectual legacy. For the first two decades of his career, his work centered on the exploration of abstraction, investigating the possibilities of autonomous visual expression and the communicative power of images. In subsequent years, he returned to figurative painting, engaging in a dialogue with the tradition of modern European painting, drawing inspiration from artists such as Caravaggio, Giotto, Michelangelo, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and Vermeer.
Over time, he increasingly began to address ethical issues and the broader themes of good and evil in human life, while simultaneously examining art’s role as a medium for conveying goodness and beauty. Between 2009 and 2015, he created the painting cycle Histories of the Natives. Since 2020, he has been working on the series And Yet Life. His work frequently incorporates themes from the Bible, mythology, Christian iconography, and history.
Wojciech Cieśniewski is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Special Merit Award at the 2nd Malaysia International Art Exhibition (2012) and the Medal for Merit to Culture “Gloria Artis” (2011). His works have been showcased in over 130 individual and group exhibitions, both in Poland and abroad.
English (UK) 
Polski 
