The Myth of Europe in Art and European Identities. The Divided Memory of Europe – Will Europe Succumb to Disintegration ?

Authors

  • Beata Klocek di Biaso Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University
  • Bohdan Michalski The Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.13.2016.44.07

Keywords:

Europe, myth, art, history, values, identity

Abstract

The Polish government commissioned from Franciszek Starowieyski, a renowned Polish painter, a composition to embellish the new building of the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland at the European Union in Brussels. The monumental Divina Polonia rapta per Europa profana, executed in 1998, was put on permanent show in the main hall of the Permanent Representation seat. ‘Divina Polonia,’ the second female figure featured in the canvas next to Europe, is depicted with a halo. F. Starowieyski referred to the classical myth of Europe (a Phoenician princess abducted by Zeus disguised as a bull) in order to emphasize the contrast between secular Europe and ‘holy’ Poland. What is the source of this combination of nudity and saintliness? Why has this otherwise liberated artist, who in hundreds of compositions obsessively portrays the female nude and remains distant from bigotry or clericalism, suddenly resorted to religious symbols? These intriguing and disturbing questions arose after seeing the exhibition on the myth of Europe shown in Florence. There, works of twentieth century artists from Western Europe did not contain religious symbols. We seem to be approaching the topical problem of the unity of Europe. The canvas Divina Polonia rapta per Europa profana is a symbolic summary of the two different historical experiences of the East and West of Europe.

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Author Biographies

  • Beata Klocek di Biaso, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University

    Graduated from the Faculty of Art History of the Lublin Catholic University and Departamento Lettere e Filosofia of the La Sapienza University in Rome (awarded with the title of Dottore in Lettere). She was awarded the title of Ph.D. in humanities at the Institute of Art History of the Polish Academy of Sciences. She is associated with The Institute of Culture of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, the SWPS University and the University of Florence, where she organised international conferences focusing on European identity. She is an member of the Scientific Council of the series “Europe XXI. New Perspectives,” published by the Adam Marszałek Publishing House. Her academic interests focus on the problems of visual communication and the traditions of antiquity in contemporary culture, and her latest book was devoted to the sculpture of Igor Mitoraj.

  • Bohdan Michalski, The Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art

    Professor at the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw. Former director of the Polish Institute in Stockholm and Cultural Attaché of the Polish Embassy in Stockholm (1994-1997). Member of the Association of Polish Writers. Member of the Editorial Committee for the 24-volume critical edition of collected writings of Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz, and author of many works of his philosophical and aesthetic views. Recipient of the Reconciliation Award (1996) from the Jewish Community Council of Stockholm for his work to promote Christian-Jewish dialogue in Sweden through the “Jews and Christians: Who is Your Neighbor After the Holocaust?” program. Former Professor at the University College of Social Psycholog y, Warsaw. His research interests include Polish philosophy, reconciliation ethics and policy.

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Published

18-10-2016

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 5 (44) (2016): Human Values in Intercultural Space

Section

Articles

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How to Cite

“The Myth of Europe in Art and European Identities. The Divided Memory of Europe – Will Europe Succumb to Disintegration ?”. 2016. Politeja 13 (5 (44): 101-20. https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.13.2016.44.07.

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