The most beautiful Kraków Raccoons were chosen. 3 nativity scenes from Poland went to the Vatican

The strip embroidered on the conventional Kraków corset was among the works awarded in the 82nd Kraków Raccoon Competition. The most beautiful works of local artists this year will be seen together with conventional nativity scenes from the Italian town of Caltagirone.

The results of the competition were announced on Sunday at the Krzysztofory Palace. This year, the jury, consisting of historians, ethnographers, art historians, architects and artists, selected the most beautiful of 221 works. Pointing to the expanding number of applications to the competition each year, the typical of the president of Krakow Paweł Szczepanik stressed that the tradition is strong and constantly developing.

– We know how crucial you are to Krakow. At the same time, know that you are the depositors of this tradition, you can spread it, tell it in the most beautiful way, besides thanks to the year you prepared for the year of the nativity scenes. – said Paweł Szczepanik to the novices gathered at the ceremony.

President Krakow's typical pointed out the performance of the Multicultural Choir, who preceded the awards, as well as the presence in the hall of guests from Italy. – I admit that I am moved by this, due to the fact that I believe that only in multiculturalism, only in collision, only in variety are the most beautiful things born. For culture this diversity, diversity is peculiarly important – emphasized the President's Plenipotentiary.

This year, the announcement of the results of the competition was combined with the authoritative beginning of the exhibition Szopek from Caltagirone, an Italian town celebrated for its ceramic scenes. They will be seen together with the Krakow Nativity scenes at the post-competition exhibition at the Krzysztofory Palace.

– When I arrived in Krakow 2 years ago, the thing that got my attention was just an amazing tradition of nativity scenes. Kraków raccoons are part of the planet tradition. I have come from Italy, or a country where there are respective Nativity cults. This was the thought of creating a cultural bridge, combining beautiful Italian Nativity traditions with the Krakow tradition said manager of the Italian Cultural Institute in Krakow Matteo Ogliari during the ceremony.

Krakow nativity scenes were assessed in six categories: adult/senior categories, youth, family, children's, school categories, as well as the fresh category OF OFF for loosely referenced structures.

In the category of adult winners, 4 groups were announced: for authors of large, medium, tiny and miniature nativity scenes. First places were taken by: Zbigniew Zyman (large coops), Leszek Zarzycki (medium), ex aequo Wiesław Barczewski and Jakub Zawadziński (small), ex aequo Dorota Bury-Nabiałkowska, Zbigniew Gillert and Jan Kirsz (miniature).

Museumists point out that the creators of nativity scenes have been referring not only to Krakow's monuments for years, but besides to contemporary architecture and events. Therefore, the competition created the Off category for structures loosely referring to traditions. In this category, Karolina Starostki-Kokoszka's work was won, which embroidered the show on the conventional Kraków corset.

In the youth category, the jury best rated the nativity scenes of Krzysztof Haberka (aged 12-14) and Katarzyna Strzelczyk and Zofia Solecka (15-17). Results in children's categories will be announced next week.

In addition, the media noted that 3 nativity scenes from Poland (from Radom, Sierpca and Wadowice) can be seen on Sunday at the exhibition “Sto nativity scenes in the Vatican” in Bernini column at St Peter’s Square. There were 125 mangers, including France, San Marino, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, USA, Venezuela, Japan, Philippines and Taiwan.

From Poland the Nativity scene was brought from the Museum of the name of Jacek Malczewski in Radom, the Mazowiecka Village Museum in Sierpc and Wadowice. Radomska nativity scene is the work of folk creator Jarosław Rodak. It was made of ceramics. The author of the show from Wadowice is folk artist Władysław Bronick. It refers to the figure of John Paul II, whose figure is next to the kneeling 3 Kings. In the background, the pope's household home and the Wadowice Basilica were presented.

The 3rd Polish Nativity scene was brought from the Mazowiecka Village Museum in August. Żłobiek performed the 11-year-old Patrycja Tomaszewska from Gralew Stara as part of the competition “Szopka Bethlehemska – a tiny work of art”, organized by the museum. The exhibition of nativity scenes from around the planet will be open until January 6.

Source: PAP / Julia Kalęba