Let's Paint Catholicism Again (pol. ''Namalować katolicyzm od nowa'') – a project aimed at renewing Western sacral painting, introducing high-quality contemporary painting to the Catholic churches and revitalizing the artistic patronage.
It's originator was
Dariusz Karłowicz Dariusz Karłowicz (born 5 July 1964) is a Polish philosopher, university lecturer, columnist, and a book publisher. Recipient of the Officer's Cross Order of Polonia Restituta for cultural accomplishments (2023) and the Cavaler's Cross Order of Pol ...
. It was initiated by three cooperating institutions: Saint Nicholas Foundation, Political Theology and St. John Paul II Institute of Culture (at
Angelicum University). The project consists of a range of initiatives: book series "Let's Paint Catholicism Again", seminars, conferences, lectures and art exhibitions.
Each year a Mystery of the Rosary is selected. A group of invited Polish painters create paintings illustrating the Mystery. The process of painting is preceded by workshops, aimed at broadening the knowledge of artists in the field of theology, philosophy, and history of arts.
The invited lecturers have so far been, among others: Rev. Prof. Marek Starowieyski, Fr. Jarosław Kupczak OP, Anna Kilian, Bazyli de Górski, Izabela Rutkowska, Rev. bishop Jacek Grzybowski. The workshops took place i.a. at the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec, in former monastery complexes in Hebdów and in Wigry.
Artists
Each year paintings are being created by: Jarosław Modzelewski, Ignacy Czwartos, Beata Stankiewicz, Krzysztof Klimek, Jacek Hajnos OP, Wojciech Głogowski, Artur Wąsowski, Grzegorz Wnęk, Bogna Podbielska, Jacek Dłużewski.
Also, in every Edition one painter of the youger generation takes part. So far, those were (chronological order): Wincenty Czwartos, Michał Żądło, Ewa Czwartos, Karolina Żądło.
Art exhibitions
I Edition – the
Divine Mercy image
The image of the Divine Mercy is a depiction of Jesus Christ that is based on the Divine Mercy (Catholic devotion), Divine Mercy devotion initiated by Faustina Kowalska.
According to Kowalska's diary, Jesus told her "I promise that the soul that w ...
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The first Edition of the project took place in the
Basilica of the Holy Trinity in Kraków in November 2022 and was inaugurated with an exhibition of 10 paintings of
Divine Mercy image
The image of the Divine Mercy is a depiction of Jesus Christ that is based on the Divine Mercy (Catholic devotion), Divine Mercy devotion initiated by Faustina Kowalska.
According to Kowalska's diary, Jesus told her "I promise that the soul that w ...
. Later, the paintings were exhibited in Warsaw (underground of
St. Florian's Cathedral, February–March 2023), Rome (
San Salvatore in Lauro
San Salvatore in Lauro is a Catholic church in central Rome, Italy. It is located on a piazza of the same name in the rione Ponte. It stands on Via Vecchiarelli, just south of the Lungotevere Tor di Nona and north of via dei Coronari. It is the ...
, April-May 2023).
II Edition –
Annunciation
The Annunciation (; ; also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of Our Lady, or the Annunciation of the Lord; ) is, according to the Gospel of Luke, the announcement made by the archangel Gabriel to Ma ...
Source:
In 2023 each artist created two paintings: larger, intended to serve worship in churches and smaller, intended for private worship.
The exhibition took place in the undergrounds of
St. Florian's Cathedral in Warsaw (November 2023 - February 2024),
San Salvatore in Lauro
San Salvatore in Lauro is a Catholic church in central Rome, Italy. It is located on a piazza of the same name in the rione Ponte. It stands on Via Vecchiarelli, just south of the Lungotevere Tor di Nona and north of via dei Coronari. It is the ...
in Rome (April 2024), St. Sigismundus's church in Częstochowa (July - September 2024),
Podlaska Opera and Orchestra house in Białystok (October 2024), Diocesan Museum in Opole (December 2024 - January 2025).
III Edition – Visitation
Source:
For the III Edition 20 paintings were created. The first exhibition took place in the undergrounds of
St. Florian's Cathedral in Warsaw (November 2024 - January 2025).
IV Edition – Nativity
After taking part in workshops concerning the Nativity of Jesus Christ, the painters are currently illustrating the third Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, creating two images: of Nativity and of Adoration of the Child Jesus.
The exhibition will take place in November 2025 in the
St. Florian's Cathedral in Warsaw.
Accompanying events
Book series "Let's Paint Catholicism Again" – a book series published by Political Theology, aiming at popularising knowledge in the field of culture, arts and theology.
The first book of the series was "Cult and Culture" (pol: ''Kult i kultura'') written by priest
Janusz Pasierb
Janusz Stanisław Pasierb (7 January 1929 – 15 December 1993) was a Polish Catholic priest, poet and writer, historian.
Further reading
* "Prace ks. J. St. Pasierba" in ''XX lat Akademii Teologii Katolickiej. Księga pamiątkowa 1954–1974'' ...
(selection and editing by bishop Michał Janocha).
The second was
Alain Besançon's, "The forbidden image: an intellectual history of iconoclasm", the first polish translation of ''L'image interdite: une histoire intellectuelle de l'iconoclasme''.
[{{cite web, access-date=2025-02-17 , title=Namalować katolicyzm od nowa , url=https://ksiegarnia.teologiapolityczna.pl/22-namalowac-katolicyzm-od-nowa , website=ksiegarnia.teologiapolityczna.pl]
References
Polish artist groups and collectives
Catholicism in Poland
Organizations established in 2023
2023 establishments in Poland
Catholic painting
Catholic lay organisations