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"Happy is (s)he who, like Ulysses, has travelled far...."



Apr 13, 2012

Polish connotations with India. A post for a Friend.:) Polskie konotacje z Indiami, post dla Przyjaciólki.:)

I used to say that we (Poles or Polish people) are everywhere in the world.( Of course deep inside I am convinced you will find a place on Earth that has no idea about Poland quite easily.) ;) Still everywhere I went some Polish names or the name of my country were well known here and there and to meet someone from my country that is living abroad was surprisingly easy even when Poland was not in UE.
The reason why I am writing this post is the talk that we had with Sans! when she was visiting Poland. I don’t suppose anyone of you could think that Poles have any connotations with India? Well, to be honest until last year I was sure(silly me!) no one heard Polish names in this big, well known country. Well, maybe except for Christians and John Paul II.;)
Yet, to my surprise last year one of our TV channels was showing a movie about an Artist named Stefan Norblin, who’s name was till recently completely forgotten in Poland. Because of WWII his life was full of moving from country to country and one of his destinations, quite probably the most important one, was Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India.
Why the most important? Well he got there the most important commission in his life. A commission from Maharaja Umaid Singh to adorn his new palace, Chittar Palace.
Chittar Palace( now known as Umaid Bhawan Palace) was built as a hybrid design of both Eastern and Western architecture of which the British architectural firm Lanchester and Lodge was responsible. The interiors were adorned with Art Deco and Streamline Moderne style. And Stefan Norblin was responsible for murals and paintings .
Quite recently the first Norblin’s exhibition took place in Stalowa Wola in my country….
Some links:................................................................................... The Peak of Chic ............................................................................................ Polish exhibition (in Polish).......................................................................................... Umaid Bhawan Palace ................................................................................... Stefan Norblin (in Polish)......................................................................................... A Pole in palace ......................................................................................... Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces ......................................................................................
All the photos in this post were found on internet. ................................................................................................................................................................................................. Dzisiejszy post został napisany pod wpływem rozmowy z Sans! o Indiach. Pamiętałam , że oglądałam program w telewizji o polskim malarzu, który ozdobił jeden z indyjskich pałaców, ale za przysłowiowe Chiny nie mogłam sobie przypomnieć ani nazwiska malarza, ani nazwy pałacu.;) Teraz nadrabiam zaległości i zapraszam do poznania twórczości Stefana Norblina, naszego - bardzo mało znanego w kraju - nadwornego malarza maharadży Umaid Singh’a.

20 comments:

Ascension said...

Me han encantado las fotografias, la historia y los enlaces.
Si te pones a pensar todos estamos relacionados con todos jeje
...lo mas gracioso es que ha sido la visita de Susan, quien te ha creado ese interes.......no hay como tener amigas por todo el mundo para aprender un poco cada dia.
Por eso me encata visitarte, porque siempre aprendo algo nuevo.
besitos ascension

The Old Maid said...

Yup, we are somehow always connected with other Bloggers.;D As we said with Eva: the world became small again.;D
Happy you like this post, Ascension! Muchisimas gracias!
Hugs and kisses

Drora's minimundo said...

Thank you for sharing these arty photos. On our visit to India, several years ago, we saw a lot of Italian art, even the Taj Mahal is totally Florentin art decorated. But this is very modern in comparison.
Yes, the world became a small village.
Have a nice weekend!
Hugs

Sans! said...

Thank you so much Ewalina for this beautiful and informative post.

Do you know the style of this kind of architecture was called the Indo-Saracenic Revival. It was started in British occupied India . The British architects mixed islamic, Hindu , gothic and Neo-classical style . What do you think? You like it?

And on people not knowing Poland, I seriously think that's impossible :). Not knowing Singapore, definitely possible.

One day, we should see the palace together eh? I must confess I am undecided on whether I really like Norblins art. Will really have to see them up close and not from an iPad :).

The Old Maid said...

Oh, Drora! You are such a traveller! Lucky you to see it on your own eyes! Thank you for sharing it with me!
Hugs and have a nice weekend too!

The Old Maid said...

Haha Sam!;D I do think more people know something about Singapore than about my country!

I don't know if I like Norblin's art either. ;) So I guess we should go there together to see it ourselves.:)

Thank you for the information about architecture's names and I think I like the palace as the building. But it does have a bit of British look.

Honestly I would expect something more Indian than these in the interior, both furniture and paintings. But I guess it must have been something new then and Maharaja must have loved modern art.;)

BiWuBär said...

I'm learning something new and interesting every time you have a new post... ;O) Thank you for this Poland-India-connection!

Greetings
Birgit

Daydreamer said...

I think I have seen pictures of these murals somewhere... in a book or a Design Magazine I am sure....!
Ah...The Art Deco style of Murals.... there is a "Stylized" and sometimes "flat" nature to them.... Trying to blend the Ancient or Primitive (think Egyptian..) artforms with the more recent "Art Nouveau"... It was often used in Book Illustration.... and Murals on a Grand Scale!
I was not aware that the Artist was Polish.... and did not even know his name! Thank you Ewa, for showing this!

Plushpussycat said...

Very interesting! Who knew?! The murals are really beautiful--I love that art deco style! Thanks for the nice post. :-) Jennifer

rosanna said...

Ewa thank you for sharing. The palace is splendid and I'll go and search for it.
I wish you a lovely week end, Rosanna

The Old Maid said...

Thank you Brigit! I am sometimes so surprised when I find things like that too! LOL
Hugs and kisses!

The Old Maid said...

Thank you Betsy for this information! As I see we all learn something nwe from each other.;D

The Old Maid said...

Thank you, Jennifer! Happy you like them!
Hugs

The Old Maid said...

Thank you, Rosanna! Have a great weekend too!
Hugs and kisses!

Maria Ireland said...

Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures. Somewhere else on my wish list : D Have a great weekend.
Hugs Maria

The Old Maid said...

On my too, Maria!;D
Have a great weekend!
Hugs

Ilona said...

Hi Ewa, thank you for sharing these pictures/details of art. I like that very much. The world comes to me, when I am in the blogosphere: so much interesting people and posts!
Have a great sunday and week. Hugs, Ilona

The Old Maid said...

Thank you so much Ilona! Happy you like it!
Have a great Sunday and week too!
Hugs

dalesdreams said...

Hmmm.... he kinda reminds me of Picasso? Can I say that?

The photos look incredible.

Ewa, I am so ticked that you and Sans got to meet, I kinda feel like we go to, as well. :)

What Sans' posted about the columns is very interesting, I never thought of that.

Oh, and my last name is Chmielewski, I think that is the original spelling, it was shortened to be more American, such was the way.

The Old Maid said...

Hahahhaa Dale!!!!! I was thinking once if your family name has any Polish background. LOL! Thank you for sharing this with me! Didn't I say we are everywhere? ;D
Thank you so much!
Hugs