:: Drawings

The collection of more than 400 works on paper includes pencil and ink drawings, watercolours, pastels and mixed media. The works, for the most part, have a 30cm x 21cm format. They were made between 1969 and 1985.

Political Involvement

In 1981, following General Jaruzelski's military coup, "war measures" were enacted in Poland. A long struggle erupts between the government and the dissident Solidarity movement. Majka Kwiatowska participates to the "Movement for independent culture" by organising clandestine exhibitions and artistic events. She is also active in the organisation supporting painters and sculptors. 

:: Invitations to one of the clandestine exhibitions presented during the "war measures" period

:: Secret messages from the "war measures" period (coded notes from the artist)

«...  during these years, she held in her hands the thread of many events - she was in a key position, spearheading many initiatives in the independent art world: exhibitions, the activities of the comity for the fine arts, and clandestine publishing.

Her graphic notes and now legendary "doodles" date from this period: they allowed her to code secret information and fooled undesirables. How did she know how to convey so much precise information in seemingly abstract, colourful scribbles? - names, addresses, dates, decisions. Her tools of resistance to censorship were her cleverness and sense of humour.

Unfortunately, the most attractive examples were quickly swept away by friends of friends. Almost none remain.» 

Roma et Stefan Bratkowscy
From the presentation of the August 2005 Retrospective Exhibition.