Artists

ANTONI CHODOROWSKI (1946 - 1999)

Antoni Chodorowski arrived to the capital of Poland in 1965 from Chodory in the region of Białystok. He started studies of land engineering at the Technical College in Warszawa, but in 1975 he graduated the Faculty of Interior Design at the Academy of Fine Arts.

In 1970 he made his debut as a cartoonist in the magazine "Jazz Forum". Since then he published his drawings in many local and foreign magazines, the most important of which are among others: "Szpilki", "Karuzela", "Czas", "Fundamenty", "Polityka", "Polska", "Politechnik", "Najwyższy czas", "Fonosfera", "Tygodnik Solidarność", "Jeż", Pardon" (Germany).

The artist was mainly interested in satirical drawing, poster and book illustration. His cartoon reviews from vernissages, theatrical and film premieres often appeared in "Warszawski Informator Kulturalny" and "Film". He was also fascinated by easel painting, to which he ramained faithful since his studies. It brought him serious prizes and distinctions, among others at "Fama" in Świnoujście and at "Przetarg 1970" in Gdańsk. In 1975 the artist got Grand Prix at the International Film Festival Poster Competition in Strasburg.

Since the eighties , Antoni Chodorowski has been counted among the leaders of contemporary satirical cartoonist and portrait caricaturists in Poland. Any important satirical exhibition couldn't miss the works of "Chodor". Mainly, he received recognition for the caricatures of politicians and VIPs. His drawings repeatedly amazed with its simplicity and originality of the idea and at the same time with perversity and timeless sense of humour.

He presented his works at numerous individual and joint exhibitions as well as at local and international competitions. He was taking part in International salons of humour in Montreal, Gabrdighra, Berlin, Ankara, Strasburg, Bratyslava, Skopje, Legnica. He got many awards for his drawings among others in Istambul, Tokyo and Montreal.

He was a multiple laureate of Bronze and Silver Pin of "Satiricon" in Legnica and of other prestigious prizes. In 1995 Polish-American community awarded him a "Green/Gold" Distinction Award, as a recognition of his work.

The artist joined our Terra Nostra Publishing House in 1998. We recognised his unusual talent, his creative professionalism and perfectionism. He was working quickly and intensely, frequently surprising us by the final result of his solutions. He impressed others with his unusual personality, humour, calmness and self control, tolerance and kindness towards people and the world. In the uncommon way his drawings blended with the events from Polish history and beauty of national literature. The artist was so modest that he used to say "it's nothing" but the map "Heritage of Poland" appeared to be "something" and till today it delights both young and old Poles in the country and abroad. This painted history unexpectedly became his last work, not to say the last stroke of painter's brush honouring his creative life.

Two days before his sudden death he got "Silver Medal" by International Jury at the Exhibition Satiricon 1999 in Legnica, which became the prize for lifetime of his artistic creativity.