Author: Bogdan Piechota
Wrocław, 10-12-2024
Enamelling is not only about functional coatings (household appliances, boilers, architectural panels, sanitary equipment, etc.), it is also an art form. We saw examples of signs and during SPPE training/symposium, we saw examples of emblems, but I would like to share with the group of enamellers that enamelling is also an art—one of the “beautiful” kinds. Today, I met with professors at the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław, who, as part of the Department of Architectural Painting and Multimedia, run the Architectural Painting and Art in Public Space Studio, as well as the Painting Techniques and Drawing Studio and Innovative Practices Studio. They teach students various painting techniques, including the application of enamel.
This meeting was inspired by a situation from the late 1980s when students undertook their diploma internships at the “Wrozamet” Heating Equipment Works, and I was the supervisor of those internships. I was curious whether any knowledge or pieces of work from that time have survived to this day. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the aforementioned studios are preserving works from that period, and the studios are equipped with firing ovens. The instructors proudly showed me works of both themselves and their students. More importantly, the professors teach enamelling techniques.
I believe that such initiatives will enrich our monotonous enamelling life, and young people, who will encounter this challenging field in the future, will fill the niche between technical enamelling and informational (signage) enamelling.
Dr. hab. Jacek Jarczewski, Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Head of the Painting Techniques Studio
Bogdan Piechota
Dr. hab. Adam Chmielowiec, Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Head of the Architectural Painting Studio
Master Jarosław Pabich-Szmyt, Assistant at the Painting Techniques Studio
Bogdan Piechota
Dr. hab. Jacek Jarczewski, Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Head of the Painting Techniques Studio
“Flight of the Bumblebee” by Bogdan Story
Enamel, created as part of the diploma practice at ZSG Wrozamet, 2nd half of the 1980s.
“Landscape” by Jarosław Pabich-Szmyt
Enamel. Created at the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław
