Medal for the artist

The Pontifical Council for Culture’s Per Artem Ad Deum Medal has been awarded for nine years at the Targi Kielce’s exhibition. The Pontifical Council for Culture, the body which awards this accolade, was founded in 1982 upon the initiative of Pope John Paul II. Upon the Council establishment, the Holy Father emphasized that “the dialogue of the Church with cultures of the contemporary world constitutes a significant area of activity, in which in the last years of the 20th century the future of the world is being shaped”. The Medal is regarded a crowning element presented in recognition for most outstanding cultural and artistic achievements.

This year’s Pontifical Council for Culture’s Per Artem Ad Deum Medal has been awarded to Stanisław Rodziński, an outstanding Polish artist, painter and essayist. The accolade has been presented “for the shades of life which embody the quest for solace and reflection upon life’s transience” From 1971 to 1981 Rodziński was the head of the Wroclaw Fine Arts Academy’s painting and drawing studio. For a number of years Rodziński has collaborated with Krakow Fine Arts Academy; he has also been the Dean as well as the Rector of the Academy. Rodziński is also a member of PAU and the National Heritage Board of Poland’s Programme Council. Rodziński’s paintings have generated an avid interest as he has been an unequalled master in colours and chiaroscuro use. Rodziński is a laureate of numerous accolades, including Jurzykowski Foundation Award, he was also bestowed the Medal Komisji Edukacji Narodowej (Commission for National Education Medal) in 1993, and the Officers’ Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta in 1998

Other nominees of this year’s edition are:

• Roman Berger – a composer from Slovakia,
• Philip Gröning – German director and documentary film maker
• Antanas Kmieliauskas – Lithuanian fine arts master
• Mario Botta – Swiss architect

At the Last year’s edition the Medals were presented to representatives of music milieus from home and abroad. The Medal was presented to the outstanding film music composer Ennio Morricone. The other laureate was the late Professor Stefan Stuligrosz; the medal was thus handed to the Poznan Nightingales Choir.