Reflection of Mystery - Exhibition of paintings by Polish artists

John Paul the Great, Pray for Us by Marcin Kołpanowicz

The Polish Government has declared 2020 as the year of Pope St. John Paul II.

Whilst every year on 16th October we remember Karol Wojtyła being chosen to the seat of St Peter in Rome, this year is particularly special because it marks the 100th anniversary of His birth on 18th May 1920.

To celebrate this centenary, an exhibition of art entitled 'Reflection of Mystery' has been organised in Poland by the Pomeranian Priory of the Order of St Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, in response to the letter written on the 4th April 1999 by Pope John Paul II to 'Artists of the World'.

The Letter, encouraging the mystery of God in their works and acknowledging their unique talent begins:

"To all who are passionately dedicated to the search for new "epiphanies" of beauty so that through their creative work as artists they may offer these as gifts to the world."

Twelve outstanding Polish artists have contributed their paintings to create this 'Reflection of Mystery' exhibition, with the plan being for it to be shown throughout Poland as well as in London and elsewhere. The Coronavirus crisis has interrupted this touring itinerary.

In London, it was decided to create a virtual exhibition and this will be accessible from the 25th November on:

www.tpp.london/the-relief-society-for-poles-2/reflection-of-mystery/.

His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, in a letter to the Relief Society For Poles Trust at the opening of the online exhibition "Reflection of Mystery" writes:

"The beauty which we behold around us is a fragment, a reflection, of its source: the beauty of the essence and nature of God. The world can be understood as full of these fragments, or reflections: in nature, in architecture, in music and, of course, in art."

Janusz Sikora-Sikorski KC*SG
Curator and Chairman
Relief Society For Poles Trust (Charity No. 327128)