The SACROEXPO exhibition’s gala ceremony held on June 10 is the occasion to recognise the outstanding artists – Marcin Bornus – Szczyciński, Tadeusz Boruta and Alexander Kornoukhov who are be presented the medals.

The gala awarding ceremony of the Pontifical Council for Culture’s Per Artem Ad Deum Medal presented by the Pontifical Council for Culture will be held within the scope of the  International Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious SACROEXPO.

The Medal bestowed to people who largely contribute to the to promotion of dialogue between the diversity of cultures in the contemporary world and thus promote man as an individual.

 The Per Artem ad Deum Medal has been awarded for fifteen years at Targi Kielce staged gala ceremony.

The medal laureates are presented the distinction by the Chapter members and the church high-ranking dignitaries.

The medal has been awarded since 2005; since then it has been recognised as a very special distinction for artistic milieus whose works relate to sacrum and the Church.

This year the Medal Chapter is chaired by HE Bishop Marian Florczyk. The Per Artem ad Deum Medal has been bestowed upon the three people who represent different fields of art:

Marcin Bornus-Szczyciński  is awarded the Per Artem ad Deum Medal for  “tradition promotion and dissemination, for creating the space where spiritual and secular element are brought together”

He is one of the pioneers among Poland’s baroque music vocalists, a founder of the  Bornus Consort ensemble. A graduate of the Economic Sciences Faculty at the University of Warsaw, for four years he worked as an assistant lecturer at the Faculty of Management at the University of Warsaw. Then he opted for a career change and resolved to work as freelance musician.

In 1986 he was awarded the French government scholarship to complete a master’s course at the Paris Conservatory. The founder of the  Bornus Consort (1981)  ensemble – Poland’s first attempt to reconstruct the genuine sound of a male chamber vocal ensemble with its specific vocal techniques.

The ensemble specialises in Polish polyphony characteristic for the turn of 16th and 17th centuries. He recorded for Polish Radioin additions to the works long-plays with works of Bartłomiej Pękiel, Piotr from Grudziądz, Mikołaj Zieleński, Marcin Mielczewski, all works of Wacław from Szamotuły, Polish Lent songs, chants about Saint Wojciech, Chansons et Motets, Media vita, et al.

He has performed in most European countries. Recently, he has been solely devoted to monody, especially liturgical monody. He calls himself a “traditionalist” rather than a musician as he has been into recognition, preservation and dissemination of various local traditions.

Tadeusz Boruta  is presented the Per Artem ad Deum Medal  for  “creativity which spurs today’s man search for an individual relationship with God”

A painter and arts critic born in Krakow, from 1979 to 1983 Boruta studied painting at the Fine Arts Academy in Krakow and received his diploma at Stanislaw Rodziński’s and Zbylut Grzywacz’s workshop.

At the same time, in 1980 he also began philosophical studies at the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Kracow and graduated four years later. His painting often encompass religious themes, including Passion of Christ. In the 1980s, he was a part of the independent culture movement. In 1984 awarded the “Solidarity” Independent Culture Committee’s accolades at the “Around the Graphics” exhibition. In 1985 he won the 1st Prize at the First National Youth Biennale “The Way and the Truth”. In 1988 he was bestowed the Young Artistic Prize for 1987’s achievements.

He is the author of several problem-focussed exhibitions, including “Towards the Person” (1985), “All our Daily Things” (1987) in showcased in the cloisters of     Dominicans Monastery in Krakow, the “Paschal Mystery” (1986) in the crypt of the Piarists church in Krakow, “Aus der Metapher heraus” (1990) in Darmstadt, “What is an artist worth in the times of misery” (1990) in Warsaw   Zachęta   galery  and the National Museum in Krakow (1991), “I barbari nel giardino.

Mostra di pittura di artisti polacchi “in Bologna (1998),” Generation ’80. Independent young artists’ works in the 1980-1989 period” in Krakow (2010).

Alexander Kornoukhov  is presented the Per Artem ad Deum Medal for  “fusion of science and tradition expressed inspired art forms”

The most prominent present-day mosaicist, open to other religions and cultures as evidenced by his realizations in churches of different denominations.

The studios he works in are located studios in Moscow, Georgia, Ravenna and Rome. A laureate of many prestigious awards, world competitions including those in Ravenna (Italy) in 1986, the Golden Medal of the Russian Academy of Artists (2002).

The arrangement of the New Jerusalem mosaic made of 100 million elements in the Vatican chapel is his most famous achievement. The project is ranked among one of the most ambitious artistic undertakings of the 20th century.

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– This is not my career culmination, yet this is a mission. This is the mission I am faced with  – said Professor Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski upon becoming a member of the Medal fellowship.

A Russian director and screenwriter Aleksander Sokurov and professor Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski have entered the laureates fellowship of the Per Artem at Deum Medal. The Medal presentation, following many-year traditions accompanies the annual International Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious Art SACROEXPO held in Targi Kielce. The award has been presented to over 20 outstanding personalities – representatives of science, culture and arts.

The Medals were awarded by: His Excellency Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda – Metropolitan of Bialystok, His Excellency Jan Piotrowski PhD. – Bishop of Kielce,
and the President of the Board of Targi Kielce Andrzej Mochoń PhD.

Aleksander Sokurov is the Russian director who was pronounced one of the
100 best directors by the European Film Academy. He is a laureate of the Golden Lion at the Venice festival for his “Faust” adaptation. When presented the Medal, the artist emphasized the important role of the spiritual element in man and expressed his admiration for professor Krzysztof Zanussi’s work who was also present at the gala ceremony.

Fr. Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski is the the other laureate. Fr. Kłoczowski is a theologian, professor of philosophy. He was bestowed with the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for his outstanding merits in democratic transformation of Poland and his professional and social achievements which benefit the country.
– This is not my career culmination, yet this is a mission. This is the mission I am faced with –  this is how the laureate recounted his nomination to the award.

The gala hosted also the previous-years’ Per Artem Ad Deum Medal winners: professor Dobrosław Bagiński, Tomasz Furdyna, Leszek Mądzik PhD., professor Wincenty Kućma and Professor Krzysztof Zanussi The ceremony was graced with the performance of the Dwa Brat band, Marcin and Rafał Gęborek performance accompanied with images from Aleksander Sokurov’s films: Russian ark, The Lonely Voice of Man, Faust, Father and Son, Moloch, Whispering Pages, Mother and Son.

The Per Artem ad Deum accolades have been presented since 2005 during the June’s International Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious Art SACROEXPO is held in Targi Kielce This prestigious award is bestowed to people who largely contribute to the promotion of dialogue between the diversity of cultures in the contemporary. The laureates list includes, inter alia: Ennio Morricone, Krzysztof Zanussi and Claudia Henzler.

Aleksander Sokurov and professor Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski PhD. Hab. enter the laureates fellowship of the Pontifical Council for for Culture.

The  Per Artem ad Deum Medal has been awarded for 13 years at the Targi Kielce’s SACROEXPO. The  Per Artem ad Deum Medal has been awarded by the Pontifical Council for since 2005; it is bestowed to those who enhance dialogue between the diversity of cultures in the contemporary world.    The gala ceremony will feature the laureates – Rev. Father Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski for “For a profound engagement in the discovery and knowledge dissemination about undiscovered links between theology, philosophy and psychology” and Aleksander Sokurov “For the consistent use of the powerful artistic authority in quest for answers to questions related to religion in art”.

This year’s laureates will be resented the medals during the Gala Ceremony on 11 June 2018.

Professor   Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski is a Dominican, a theologian, a professor of philosophy who has been decorated with the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. Kłoczowski he graduated from the Institute of Art History of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan and philosophy at the Catholic University of Lublin.  He teaches philosophy of God and religion as well as the 19th and 20th century philosophy history at the College of Philosophy and Theology of the  Dominicans in Krakow.  He was also the Department of Philosophy of Religion head at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow. Kłoczowski is also the books author, and amon them “More than a myth. Leszek Kołakowski’s dispute over religion “,” Between loneliness and community.  Introduction to philosophy of religion “,” Man’s ways of mysticism”,” Philosophy of dialogue “. Kłoczowski is the chairman of the Program Board of the Józef Tischner Institute . In 2014 Kłoczowski received the title of Master of Sacred Theology – the highest Dominican academic title. In the 1970’s and 1980’s Fr. Kłoczowski was involved in the Dominican “Beczka” pastoral ministry,  he was also actively involved in anti-communist opposition,  including through the Student Solidarity Committee).  In 2015 the “Kłocz. Autobiography” book was out – this is the interview with Father Kłoczowski authored by Artur Sporniak and Jan Strzałka.

Aleksander Sokurov – a Russian director and screenwriter, the winner of the Golden Lion at the 68th  Venice International Film Festival for his adaptation of the Faust.  By the resolution of the European Film Academy, Sokurov was pronounced one of the 100 best directors.  Aleksander Sokurov graduated from the Faculty of History at the University of Gorky. In the years 1975-1979 Sokurov studied at the Moscow’s WGIK famous film school, the documentary film studio.  He did not finish his studies as he was accused of anti-Soviet political views.  Sokurov worked in “Leningrad” documentary film studios.  He eventually gained recognition in the 90’s.  He lectured at the LenFilm Studio and hosted his own TV program “Sokurov’s Island”. In Saint Petersburg Sokurov opened a film production company  “Bereg”  whose objective was to support independent artists.  Starting from “Moloch”, none of Sokurov’s films has gone unnoticed. Almost all his films have competed at the Cannes’ IFF main competition for the Golden Palm.  In 2003 he was also honoured with the Andrzej Wajda “Freedom” Award presented by the American Cinema Foundation.