The work of Frans Krajcberg (Brazil)

Although hardly anyone in Poland has heard of Frans Krajcberg, he was an extremely colourful and, above all, ahead of his time figure. He combined his love of art with environmental activism, and his inspiration from nature with highly original means of expression.

Frans Krajcberg (1921-2017) - sculptor, photographer and painter born in Kozienice, to a family of Polish Jews . Although he is not particularly well known in Poland, in Brazil today he is counted among the most popular artists of the 20th century.
In 1940, Krajcberg began his studies at Leningrad University (Leningradskiy Universitet). At some point he joined the First Polish Army and was sent to Uzbekistan. Later he also studied at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart (Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart). He then went to Paris, while from there he travelled to Brazil. As a result of the Holocaust , his entire family perished and he decided to leave our country forever.

His first major works were created between 1948 and 1954, initially still lifes with Brazilian vegetation , later taking on a darker form. A sensitivity to the destruction of nature and environmental problems is evident in his art . From 1978 onwards, he was actively involved in pro-environmental initiatives that showed the destructive impact of man on the planet. As an activist, he also tried to convince world leaders of the need to save the Amazon Forest.

Krajcberg was openly critical of the devastation of Brazil's forests - his artistic means of expression included materials such as burnt wood harvested from illegal fires he witnessed. Remnants of tree trunks, roots, vines and natural pigments can also often be seen in his works. In the words of connoisseurs of his work: he sought to engage in a dialogue with textures, colours and forms that were created without human intervention.

Some of Krajcberg 's most recognisable works include:
- "Terra craqueladas" ("Cracked earth") - reliefs decorated with natural pigments.
- "Ragged shadows" - works that were created by distinctive vine pruning.
- "Africana" - sculptures that have been created using palm trunks, lianas, sticks and charred stems and are inspired by, among other things, the costumes used during many African rituals.