Mitoraj and his sculptures

While travelling across Europe or around the globe you might have come across works by Igor Mitoraj. They are easily recognizable – they look like antique statues, figures with ideal proportions and elegant features… but there’s always something off about them. They are either incomplete, or gigantic, or unexpectedly askew. It’s not that they are mutilated – it seems that they are whole in their distortion.

Places where you can find them are, among others, Spain, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Japan, Italy...
Mitoraj was of Polish origin and he spent his childhood in a town beside Cracow (Kraków). After studies he decided to explore the world. First he moved to Paris, where he continued studies and worked for recognition. Finally, though, it was Italy that he made his home.

In Warsaw you can find three of his works.
You definitely can’t miss the Angelic Door in the Old Town. It is located at the entrance of the Jesuit church, right beside the Cathedral. One of the treasures is a picture of Our Lady of Graces, which is believed to have miraculously provided help to Warsaw in the times of plague in the 17^th century.

The door does stand out in the baroque façade, with its “ruined” figures of the Virgin and the Angels. It’s supposed to depict either Annunciation or Assumption. I opt for the latter.
It is inspired by another work of Mitoraj, located in Rome (Santa Maria degli Angeli church).

Warsaw address: Świętojańska 10

 
The other two works are definitely off the beaten touristic paths. One is located in Mokotów, in a business complex (but not the famous Mordor). There’s Grande Toscano with a lady’s head in place of his heart – it’s a copy of Mitoraj’s statue from the 70s. As the story has it, it’s a tribute to Toscany, a region that he beloved most.

 The business complex houses a foundation which promotes young artists.
Address: Bobrowiecka 6


And the last one in this list, but the first one to arive in Warsaw, was Icarus “Ikar Alato”, which greets guests of the Olympic Centre, in the north of Warsaw.

  
We know that wax in Icarus’s wings melted and he fell. Here he’s as if already fallen and crumbled – but not dead after all. 
He can be found in the north of Warsaw, if you happen to go on a longer walk around the Citadel (Cytadela) – which soon might be a more attractive tourist destination as the Citadel is being expanded and restructured with new museums being built there.

Address: Wybrzeże Gdyńskie 4

Christmas illumination 2019/2020

Every year it gets richer and richer... Let's follow the light.

I started on the right side of the Vistula river, beside the Orthodox Church (Cathedral of the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene).

 ...with the view on the main office of the state railway (1930s) on the other side of the street. Now adroned with falling snowflakes.

 After taking a tram to cross the river I arrived at the Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy)

 from there I headed for the Market Square

For the past few years the tradition of Christmas markets has been settling in in Polish cities. "Wesołych Świąt" means "Merry Christmas" (actually the festive time is not specified in this greeting, so you can use it for Easter just as well).

Leaving the Old Town for the New Town means that the street suddenly gets wider. Yes, in the old times the New Town was not constrained by the corset of the city walls, so it could afford more space.

The New Town Square.

A few steps from the square and you get to a good viewing point overlooking the foot of the hill and the river. From what we know, Maria Curie, nee Skłodowska, enjoyed this spot as well. You can see her statue in the background on the left. The scientific decoration of the  frame is self-exlanatory then.

 At the foot of the hill fountains are located. In the warm season it's here that you can view "water & light" shows every weekend. Now it's only "light".

 The Mermaid, the symbol of Warsaw. Turns out she's a bookish person ;)

 To finishoff, a look back at Christmas illuminations in 2018/19 and 2014/15.