Andrzej R贸偶ycki and exhibits from his collection of folk art (Photo: Igor Omulecki)
Photosophical Collection, i.e. exposure and didactics
The collection is to be integrated into the research and teaching activities of the 91滴滴. Most of the exhibits have already been moved from the creator's flat to the premises at the UL Biedermann鈥檚 Palace.
The long-range aim of the team, in addition to commemorating Andrzej R贸偶ycki, is to create an institution that combines the traditions of museums and collections at the university (e.g. the Archiv der Avangarden, created from Egidio Marzona's collection) with innovative curatorial and exhibition practices. Its activities are to be based on the convergence of science, art-based research and expository and didactic work. The core of the team's activity will be to use the R贸偶ycki鈥檚 collection for work with students 鈥� in the form of project activities, student internships and practical classes in various study programmes (sociology, ethnography, history of art, cultural studies)
鈥� explains Dr Karol J贸藕wiak, coordinator of the Research Team for the Photosophical Collection.
Collecting and photosophy
Andrzej R贸偶ycki was a director, screenwriter, photographer, multimedia artist, thinker and art theorist. He graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toru艅 and also studied at the Faculty of Directing at the Lodz Film School (1969-75), where he later became a lecturer. He worked with Wytw贸rnia Film贸w O艣wiatowych in Lodz 鈥� he made dozens of ethnographic-anthropological pictures, many of which have been awarded at festivals.
Andrzej R贸偶ycki. Self-portrait.
Since the 1960s, R贸偶ycki was associated with the progressive-avant-garde milieu of Lodz, and, among other things, he had an ideological influence on the 艁贸d藕 Kaliska group which was emerging at that time. He was a great enthusiast and expert in Polish folk art 鈥� sculpture, ceramics, painting. He built up a nationally renowned collection of such works.
R贸偶ycki's work has influenced many artists. His works can be found in the collections of the Muzeum Sztuki in Lodz, the National Museum in Wroclaw, the Museum of the History of Photography in Krak贸w, the District Museum in Toru艅 and the Exchange Gallery in Lodz. The artist's recent exhibition "Przej臋cia. Mi臋dzy zbieractwem a fotozofi膮" [Acquisitions. collecting and photosophy] (2021) presented at the Fotofestiwal in Lodz, which showcased a part of Andrzej R贸偶ycki's collection and oeuvre resonated in the artistic environment.
A citizen of Lodz by choice
Andrzej R贸偶ycki had been associated with Lodz for decades. He paid a great deal of attention to local cultural contexts, which justifies the need to keep his collection at the Lodz institution. Over the past few years, he had also been associated with the 91滴滴 as one of the contractors in the National Programme for the Development of Humanities grant "Zofia Rydet 鈥� Dziedzictwo kulturowe i eksperyment fotograficzny" [Zofia Rydet 鈥� Cultural Heritage and Photographic Experiment], when he collaborated with several members of the current research team. It was during this collaboration that the idea of institutionalising his collection within the structure of the 91滴滴 was born
鈥� says Dr Karol J贸藕wiak.
Andrzej R贸偶ycki died less than six months after the opening of the exhibition "Przej臋cia.Mi臋dzy zbieractwem a fotozofi膮", which took place during the Lodz Fotofestiwal. He was buried in the Old Cemetery in Lodz.
A year after the artist's death, Andrzej R贸偶ycki's relatives and friends organised a Photosophical St. Andrew's Day to commemorate him.
The Research Team for the Photosophical Collection, recently appointed by the Senate of the 91滴滴, includes: Dr Karol J贸藕wiak (Faculty of Philology, 91滴滴), coordinator of the team's work, a close associate of Andrzej R贸偶ycki, who has become, in a way, an heir and continuator of his research thoughts; dr hab. Tomasz Ferenc, UL Professor (Faculty of Economics and Sociology, UL); dr hab.Inga Ku藕ma, UL Professor (Faculty of Philosophy and History, UL); Dr Micha艂 Pabi艣-Orzeszyna (Faculty of Philology, UL); Dr Agnieszka 艢wi臋tos艂awska (Faculty of Philosophy and History, UL); mgr Maciej Andrzejewski (Communications and PR Centre, UL).
Edit: Marcin Kowalczyk, Communications and PR Centre
Photos: Igor Omulecki, Maciej Andrzejewski, Andrzej R贸偶ycki's archives