«Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945» (2000), granite and black granite — a work by Antonina Wysocka-Jonczak

Photograph: potempski.com/wysocka (period photograph)

AW.S.0119

Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945

Monument to the Teachers of the Clandestine Schooling 1939–1945

Year
2000
Material
granite and black granite
Dimensions
300 × 140 × 60 cm (design dimensions)
Location
Warsaw, Park Kazimierzowski
Monograph
The work’s monographic room Enter the room →

The work

In Park Kazimierzowski, in Warsaw, two slabs of granite stand open like the pages of a book. A square window, cut clean through, pierces the left-hand page, and inside the window stands, in black granite, the sign of Fighting Poland. The window is the signal: during the occupation lessons were held in private homes, and an object moved on a windowsill told the pupils whether it was safe to come.

The monument pays homage to the Polish teachers who between 1939 and 1945 organised and carried on the clandestine schooling, at the risk of their lives. The sculptor signs the design and follows the whole execution, from the workshop to the setting in the park, in the autumn of 2000; at the unveiling the Gazeta Wyborcza tells the story under the headline «Uczyli z narażeniem życia» — they taught at the risk of their lives.

More photographs

  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — installation in the park (hoisted by crane), autumn 2000
    installation in the park (hoisted by crane), autumn 2000
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — workshop: black granite slab with the inscription, finishing
    workshop: black granite slab with the inscription, finishing
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — workshop: inscribed slab (close variant)
    workshop: inscribed slab (close variant)
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — the slab carried into the park by lorry
    the slab carried into the park by lorry
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — unloading the slab with the crane
    unloading the slab with the crane
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — workshop: moving the blocks with a hoist
    workshop: moving the blocks with a hoist
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — workshop: moving the blocks (variant)
    workshop: moving the blocks (variant)
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — workshop: the inscription «W hołdzie… tajnego nauczania 1945» legible
    workshop: the inscription «W hołdzie… tajnego nauczania 1945» legible
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — workshop: the two page-slabs being finished
    workshop: the two page-slabs being finished
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — workshop: reclining form + slab with the signal window
    workshop: reclining form + slab with the signal window
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — workshop: slab with the rectangular window (variant)
    workshop: slab with the rectangular window (variant)
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — workshop: the granite stele upright, work in progress
    workshop: the granite stele upright, work in progress
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — installation: the monument on its final base, finishing
    installation: the monument on its final base, finishing
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — The project in two states: a stele opened by a through window and, in front, a row of books laid flat. On the plinth, in ballpoint, «1939–1945» and «TAJNE NAUCZA…».
    The project in two states: a stele opened by a through window and, in front, a row of books laid flat. On the plinth, in ballpoint, «1939–1945» and «TAJNE NAUCZA…».
  • Pomnik Nauczycieli Tajnego Nauczania 1939–1945 — Four variants on one sheet: a through window frames an open book, and the dates 1939 and 1945 are written on its pages.
    Four variants on one sheet: a through window frames an open book, and the dates 1939 and 1945 are written on its pages.

From the press and the papers

The clippings, invitations and documents in the archive that speak of this work, already published in the Press section.

Selected works The other works Open the section