Igor Mitoraj’s marble sculpture ‘Héros de lumière’ has enhanced the lobby of the East Tower at Mennica Towers in Warsaw’s Wola district. This work by one of Poland’s most outstanding contemporary sculptors has been displayed in a glass-enclosed interior in the business district of Wola, where its form and symbolism are set off to great effect.

The placement of the 1987 sculpture in the monumental lobby underlines the developer’s ambition to bring art into everyday spaces. ‘Héros de lumière’, crafted from white Carrara marble, exemplifies Mitoraj’s characteristic dialogue with antiquity – the classically modelled face of a young man is depicted here in a fragmentary form, cut through and juxtaposed with a broken block. The smooth surface of the stone contrasts with the roughness of the edges, whilst the light filtering through the building’s façades brings out subtle tonal transitions in the sculpture, enhancing its expressiveness and timeless character. However, the sculpture’s display is soon to change. The plinth on which it stands will soon be replaced to better complement the work itself.

Sculpture in space

The lobby of the East Tower at Mennica Towers combines high-quality materials, elegant detailing and natural light streaming in through the expansive glazing. It is precisely this architecture that makes Mitoraj’s marble work an integral part of the space, whilst at the same time ensuring it remains clearly on display. Thanks to its opening onto Prosta Street, the sculpture can also be admired from the outside, bringing it into dialogue with the urban landscape of Wola.

The inclusion of the sculpture in the office space is a deliberate choice designed to enhance the complex’s prestige and create a unique experience for visitors to the building. As Katarzyna Budnicka-Filipiuk, Chair of the Management Board of Mennica Polska, emphasises: “We wanted Mennica Towers to be a place where outstanding art naturally meets architecture of the highest calibre. The sculpture by Igor Mitoraj, one of Poland’s most important contemporary artists, has found its place in the grand lobby of the East Tower – a space that was designed from the outset with light, elegance and an exceptional visitor experience in mind. “It is a source of pride for us that, right in the heart of Warsaw’s business district, people can now experience a work of this calibre on a daily basis.”

Igor Mitoraj – an artist of international renown

Igor Mitoraj (1944–2014) is one of the most recognisable Polish sculptors in the world. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, under Tadeusz Kantor amongst others, and subsequently in Paris, where he developed his distinctive artistic style. He worked mainly in France and Italy, in Pietrasanta – a town situated near the famous quarries of Carrara, where he set up his own studio. His monumental sculptures, inspired by the classical ideal of beauty and the art of antiquity, now adorn public spaces in the world’s most important cities, from Rome and Paris to London and Kraków. The fragmentary forms that have become his trademark reflect on the fragility of the human condition and the enduring nature of artistic expression.

‘Héros de lumière’ at Mennica Towers is yet another example of how Mitoraj’s work harmonises with modern architecture, lending it depth and a symbolic dimension. In the Warsaw lobby, the sculpture not only gains the appropriate scale and lighting, but also a context that allows its monumental yet intimate expression to be fully appreciated.

source: press materials:

photos: Maciej Stacherski (whiteMAD)

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