Nikifor: The Legend Grows

All kinds of stories abound about the deaf and mute artist Nikifor Krynicki (1896-1968), the subject of an award-winning new film by Krzysztof Krauze. There were rumours that the artist's mother was a prostitute, whilst his father's identity remains unknown. What's more, Nikifor's love affair with art is also reputed to have sprung from unusual beginnings.

Nikifor was often struck down by illness, and once while he was in hospital, the doctor brought him some watercolours and paper to pass the time - he never looked back.

For an impoverished figure like Nikifor, who spent much of his life in Krynica, the attractive spa town where he was born, art was a means of survival.

Generally, Nikifor was treated as an oddity by the inhabitants of Krynica - not to mention the numerous visitors to the spa town. However, he managed to scrape a living by selling his paintings, which were often created on any scrap of paper or card that he could lay his hands on. Due to this reason it's difficult to determine quite how many works Nikifor created. A well known Cracovian art dealer remarked wryly that their are more fakes floating around than the real thing.

However, if you want to have a look at the genuine article (we hope!) there is a small exhibition on this month at Cracow's National Gallery (closing on 11th October).

If you miss the exhibition then never fear. The redoubtable Cafe Camelot has as many pictures by Nikifor on its walls as the National Museum, and they're on show all the year round. Nevertheless, one imagines that if Nikifor's popularity really soars, they can't stay there forever, for obvious insurance reasons.

Nikifor's self-taught style is unlikely to appeal to all. Hardened cynics might say that this is child-like art and undeserving of fuss. However, Nikifor's huge popularity in Poland (and increasingly elsewhere) is itself a testament to his unusual genius. With the emergence of Krzysztof Krauze's new film, his popularity looks set to rise further. Art dealers will certainly be rubbing their hands at this prospect, and forgers will no doubt have plenty of work too. Hurrah for Nikifor!



The Art of Nikifor: Cracow National Museum, ul. 3 Maja (September 21st - October 11th)