Objects

The drawings, called by his friends "Stefanographs", were created by Stefan Themerson as if on the sidelines of his creative activity – he was primarily a writer, poet (creator of the concept of semantic poetry), essayist, philosopher, filmmaker, author of plays and of an opera about Saint Francis. He wrote in Polish, French and English. In addition, he created photographic collages and he drew. His graphic fantasies reflect his fascination with science, philosophy and poetry. Like all his works, they are a way of discovering the truth about our world. We can suppose that even when sketching these modest drawings he asked: "God, existing within me, do not let me think with stickers that turn yellow over the drawers into which the world is divided" (S. Themerson, "Z encyklopedii wieczorów rodzinnych", in: "Generał Piesc i inne opowiadania ", Warszawa 1980, p. 162).

These optical compositions, composed of streamlined, interpenetrating geometric forms and ring-shaped, oval shapes are drawn with a thin, multi-coloured line. "Stefanographs" are colourful, ambiguous, funny and stylish. Also in drawing them Themerson transgressed established rules, and avoided templates and patterns.

A gift of Ewa Kuryluk.

Renata Piątkowska