Art Gallery

Hero Image

Rich Text

The Art House lobby plays host to revolving art installations, predominantly showcasing work by local artists, as well as curated selections on loan from private collections.

Opening October 21:

THE CENSOR AND THE ARTIST

An Exhibition and Discussion Redacting the Creative

Join us on October 21 as we unveil our first gallery installation at the Art House, an incredible private collection of rare 1960s Polish movie posters. Opening night reception begins at 6pm, hosted by collector Ron Shultz, author of the new novel All There Is To Know.

A book signing and discussion will take place later in the hour.

Censorship has never worked in the art world; instead it can trigger new art forms, new ways of communicating that get around arbitrary restrictions. This is what happened in Poland during the Soviet occupation. In order to avoid the demand to only produce Soviet Realism, artists created a new genre: the movie poster as fine art. Many posters advertised Hollywood movies, but they differed dramatically from their counterparts in North America.

You’re invited to see for yourself how these artists managed to convey outrage, sorrow, humor and hope

without saying a word.

"In the 1960’s, Polish artists had to follow the dictates of Soviet Realism, bolstering a totalitarian regime, or be excluded and virtually silenced. Several artists circumvented Soviet restrictions by creating posters for motion pictures that were haunting, surreal, sad, sometimes funny, but always outrageous. Their silence was eloquent.

After Poland regained independence, these posters became popular with collectors, including Norm and Peggy Aylsworth Levine. Norm described how they found these gems:

In Los Angeles, my wife Peggy and I noticed a photo of the poster for the film, Chinatown. We were taken by the curl of a smoking cigarette which became the hair of the female lead.

In Toronto a short time later, we sought out a shop which carried movie posters. The owner referred us to a man whose collection of Polish posters were his astonishing ware. We were enthralled by these images.

During the communist era some of Poland’s finest artists were either pressed into service or gravitated toward public art. It became an artform through which to express a full range of release, from rage to satire. The constraints of the state fell away. The images rendered are shockingly bold and inventive.

Our favorite artist was Andrzej Pagowski. Candles emerge from the top of a head, birds nest in the hair, stairs climb from the nose and eyes become keyholes. Many were recognizably American movies; others European cinema. The art spoke volumes.

A totalitarian regime engenders either sheepish compliance or an underground of subversion. Art is necessarily oppositional. It challenges the margins set down by a society that has settled for a conforming order.

The posters were of a moment in time, oppressive yet a crucible for a new artistic expression.

In a time when books are being banned, art is being cut from curriculums, and libraries as well as teachers are being directed to limit what they can provide, these posters are poignant reminders that even in difficult times, artists always find new avenues of expression."

– Rebecca Hazell, Cowichan Public Art Gallery

If you are an artist interested in showcasing your work in our space, please reach out ot us via email at info@eugenearthouse.com.

Marketing Signup

Footer