# Tomasz Sobecki

Tomasz Sobecki – fine art photographer, doctor of art (PhD) – born in 1952 and residing in Toruń.

## Biography

He graduated from the mathematics and physics class in Tadeusz Kościuszko Secondary School of General Education No. 4 in Toruń (Polish matura, 1971), and from Nicolaus Copernicus University – master's degree 1977. He obtained his doctorate in photography (2013) from the Department of Director of Photography & Television Production in Leon Schiller Polish National Film, television, and Theatre School in Łódź.
During his studies, and in the first period of his adult life, he took up mountaineering (Tatra Mountains, French Alps, Hindu Kush) and natural sciences – mainly geomorphology.
In parallel with his studies in natural sciences, he systematically took part in alternative education (independent from the state's censorship) in Jesuit Academic Pastoral Ministry in Toruń. He participated in lectures and discussions of prominent Polish intellectuals, among whom were Józef Tischner, Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski, Michał Heller. The meetings had the rank of Flying University (uniwersytet latający) – the opposition movement of intellectuals during the communist era.
A prominent artist who introduced him to the world of art, and also a friend, as well as a mentor of the first foreign photographic exhibitions was Władysław Hasior. His artistic approach was influenced by his contacts with many prominent Polish artists, inter alia Tadeusz Brzozowski, Jacek Sienicki, Stanisław Rodziński, and their art.
As a high mountain climber he had a major accident in 1980. Since than, Sobecki has made fine art photography his life's goal while working as an English teacher in Toruń secondary schools.
Since 1980, after a major mountaineering accident, Sobecki has made fine art photography his life's goal, while working as an English teacher in Toruń secondary schools.
Since 1986 he has been invited to participate in Polish and international symposiums of photographers:
* FOTOGRAFOWIE WŁASNYCH DRÓG (FOTOGRAFOWIE WŁASNYCH DRÓG) — SKOKI’86. Personal invitation together with the author's presentation at the symposium in Skoki near Poznań, organized by the Arts Council ZPAF and PWSSP in Poznań;
* PHOTOGRAPHY'S PAST AND PRESENT TENSE (FOTOGRAFII CZAS PRZESZŁY I TERAŹNIEJSZY). Participation in the symposium combined with the author's speech – Legnica 1990;
* GUARD CHANGE (ZMIANA WARTY) (in photography) – symposium organized by the Krzysztof Jurecki and Krzysztof J. Cichosz in FF Gallery in Łódź 1991;
* PHOTOGRAPHIC CONFRONTATIONS (KONFRONTACJE FOTOGRAFICZNE) – participation in a symposium and exhibition at the personal invitation of a photography critic Krzysztof Jurecki (limit – five invited artists) in the event held cyclically bytheArt Exhibition Office (Biuro Wystaw Artystycznych) in Gorzów Wielkopolski 1992;
* PHOTOGRAPHY IN TIMES OF CHANGE (FOTOGRAFIA W DOBIE PRZEMIAN) – Skoki’96. Participation at the personal invitation of Association of Polish Artists Photographers Poznań District (ZPAF O. Poznań) in a symposium organized by General Board of ZPAF and University of Fine Arts in Poznań with the author's presentation of artistic achievements;
* ARS BALTICA – Photography of the Baltic Countries. Participation, at the personal invitation, in the international symposium co-financed by the European Union, organized by Art Exhibition Office Arsenał in Poznań 1997;
* International Designers Symposium MEDIATECA (by personal invitation) combined with an exhibition of completed publications and running workshops at the University in Brasov (Romania 1999);
* Participation in the international conference DESIGN INNOVATION and CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING WORKSHOP 15 – 17 January 2015 Department of Design Indian Institute of Technology in Hyderabad (India).
Between 1990 and 2013 he was an active member of the interdisciplinary association of artists: Association of Polish Artists and Designers Polish Applied Arts (ZPAP PSU). Within the Association, he was the initiator and co-founder of the Competition of Advertising Publishers IDEA, which he ran from 1996 to 2000, as well as the initiator and curator of the post-competition exhibition European Design Annual EDA’98 in Wozownia Art Gallery in Toruń.
From 1991 to 2015 he ran a studio dedicated to the full production of promotional publications: PHOTOGRAPHY – GRAPHICS – PUBLICATIONS (FOTOGRAFIA – GRAFIKA – WYDAWNICTWA) using modern computer and printing techniques. For the production of posters and multi-panel calendars, Agency – Vi –, and then STUDiO’Vi won national and international awards inter alia: IDEA'86, VIDICAL'88, European Design Annual EDA'89, VIDICAL’11 (2012). At the same time, he did not neglect his own artistic activities.
His works are inspired by the world's cultural heritage, starting from the sacredness of the Gothic (from living in Gothic Toruń) through the achievements of the ancient Egyptians (pyramids) to the contemporary architecture of today's world – Chicago's and New York's skyscrapers. His source of artistic inspiration is also the achievements of artists from various fields of art: Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, Franciszek Starowieyski, Władysław Hasior, Alexander Calder, Francis Bacon, and others. In his works we can also find artistic interpretations of the abundance of forms, dynamics, and realms of nature, cultural diversity of cities around the world, and an analysis of the personalities of prominent figures of art and science by their portraits.
A characteristic method of his creative work is the exploration of selected themes until the cognitive potential is exhausted and the chosen visual form has been exploited.
He regards photography as an integral part of visual arts with unique formal qualities. In his creative process, he explored: expression of black and white photography, (interalia the series GOTHIC SACRUM (SACRUM GOTYKU), qualities of colour photography (interalia the series COLOUR OF THE WIND (KOLOR WIATRU) and LIGHTNESS OF THE EARTH (LEKKOŚĆ ZIEMI), electronic transformation of colours (interalia the series SEA ALCHEMY (ALCHEMIA MORZA), CRAZY LOCOMOTIVES – for the Glory of Witkacy (SZALONE LOKOMOTYWY – ku Chwale Witkacego), combining photography with installations (series: THE IDEA OF PYRAMIDS (IDEA PIRAMID); PYRAMIDS, PYRAMIDS (PIRAMIDY, PIRAMIDY); MOBILE AND STABILE – at the concept stage); also explores, from the aspect of artistic form, the relationship photography – film CITY DYNAMICS (DYNAMIKA MIASTA).
He has received references and analytical statements on the artistic shape of his artistic achievements by eminent art critics, artists and intellectuals, interalia Prof Konrad Górski, Władysław Hasior, Prof. Stefan Wojnecki, Rev Prof Stanisław Pasierb, Ryszard Bobrowski, Rev. Prof. Waldemar Chrostowski, Prof. Karol Myśliwiec, Krzysztof Jurecki PhD, Alicja Saar-Kozłowska PhD, Rev. Prof. Michał Janocha, Prof. Hanna Ratuszna, Prof. Prot Jarnuszkiewicz, Prof. Wiesław Smużny, Prof. Aleksander Błoński, Prof. Piotr Karczewski, Prof. Jerzy Olek, and others.
In accordance with the suggestions of the photographic community, (inter alia Prof. Jerzy Olek) in 2012, he applied for the opening of a doctoral programme in Łódź Film School (PWSFTViT). Recommendations for the opening of the doctoral programme were given by: Prof. Stefan Wojnecki (UA in Poznań), Prof. Wojciech Hora (UTP in Bydgoszcz) and Dr hab. Piotr Karczewski (ASP in Łódź).
In June 2013, by defending his thesis The Idea of Pyramids, he obtained the degree of doktor sztuki (English: doctor of art) in photography at the Department of Director of Photography & Television Production in Łódź Film School (Filmówka). The supervisor was Dr hab. Mirosław Ledwosiński, and the reviewers Prof. Andrzej P. Bator, and Dr hab. Andrzej Musiał.

## Polish and foreign scholarships

* 1990 – art scholarship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Spain;
* 1991 – 1993 art scholarship of the Ministry of Culture and Art of the Republic of Poland;
* 2017, 2019 – art scholarship of the Creativity Support Fund by ZAiKS;
* 2017, 2019, 2023 – Art Scholarship of the Governor of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship;
* 2024 – Art Scholarship of the Mayor of Toruń.

## Selected artistic achievements

He has held numerous exhibitions in prestigious Polish and foreign art and photography galleries – see the chronological list – as well as in unusual public spaces, e.g. the Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool (1983) – a Catholic cathedral; Coventry Cathedral (1983) – an Anglican cathedral; the library of St. Louis University – USA (1991), Tsar Railway Station in Aleksandrów Pograniczny – currently Aleksandrów Kujawski (2006);, Monesterio de Pedralbes – gothic monastery and branch of the museum MUHBA in Barcelona (2010), the main Baiterek Square of the Kazakhstan's capital Astana (2011), international airport O’Hare in Chicago (2013), auditorium of the university Indian Institute of Technology in Hyderabad (2015), Great Synagogue in Tykocin – branch of Podlaskie Museum and at the same time a place of worship (2023), and others.

## Solo exhibitions in European Countries

Great Britain (1983) The PRAYER in a GOTHIC CATHEDRAL:
* Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
* Coventry Cathedral
* Coventry (Lanchester) Politechnic
Switzerland: Rapperswil (1985) GOTHIC – SHAPE AND LIGHT (GOTYK – KSZTAŁT I ŚWIATŁO) – Polish Museum in Rapperswil
Finland: Äänekoski (1990)
* GOTHIC – SHAPE AND LIGHT in City Culture Centre
* PERSPECTIVE (PERSPEKTYWA) in hall of the Town Hall Äänekoski
Spain (2010) Gothic Sacrum:
* Barcelona: Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA)
* Pamplona: CONDE DE RODEZNO Municipal Exhibition Hall
Germany (2021): CITY DYNAMICS – EXPRESSION OF PHOTOGRAPHY (DYNAMIKA MIASTA – EKSPRESJA FOTOGRAFII) as part of the International Festival of New Art LABIRYNT – Frankfurt by the Oder and an annex to this series at the Słubice Cultural Centre
Slovakia (2023) TORUŃ – COPERNICUS CITY (TORUŃ – MIASTO KOPERNIKA):
* Bratislava – Polish Institute
* Banská Bystrica – State Scientific Library

## Solo exhibitions in various countries of the world (outside Europe)

United States: St. Louis (1991) and Chicago (2013):
* 1991 – CITY – YESTERDAY (MIASTO – WCZORAJ) Public Policy Research Center – UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI in St. Louis
* 2013 – POLISH CITIES (POLSKIE MIASTA) James R. Thompson Center and airport O’Hare in Chicago
Venezuela: Caracas (1991) He represented Polish art of the 1980s at the International Art Festival with a series SHAPE OF LIGHT, as a one of five chosen artists, on the invitation of Ministry of Culture and Art of the RP; curator Nawojka Cieślińska
Kazakhstan: Astana (2011) POLISH CITIES – DIFFERENTLY (POLSKIE MIASTA – INACZEJ) – open-air exhibition in the main square of the capital city Astana, on the occasion of the Polish Presidency of the European Union
Australia: Sydney (2014) WARSAW – SUCCESS CITY (Warszawa – Miasto Sukcesu) – open-air exhibition in connection with the 25th anniversary of the first (partly free) parliamentary elections in the RP
India: Hyderabad (2015) MAGIC TORUN (MAGICZNY TORUŃ) – auditorium of the National University Indian Institute of Technology (IITH)
He has also participated, presenting a selection of works, in international group art exhibitions run by the institution POLISH ART (SZTUKA POLSKA) in Belgium and the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as in post-competition photography Exhibition WORLD OF SNOW (ŚWIAT ŚNIEGU) in Japan

## The most famous photographic series

* PRAYER IN THE GOTHIC CATHEDRAL (MODLITWA W GOTYCKIEJ KATEDRZE) 1981;
* GOTHIC – SHAPE AND LIGHT (GOTYK – KSZTAŁT I ŚWIATŁO) 1985;
* THE CRUCIFIX (KRUCYFIKS) 1983/1993;
* THE SHAPE OF LIGHT (KSZTAŁT ŚWIATŁA) 1991;
* PERSPECTIVE (PERSPEKTYWA) 1987/2008;
* CITY – YESTERDAY (MIASTO – WCZORAJ) 1988–1992;
* THE COLOUR OF THE WIND (KOLOR WIATRU) 1996;
* THE FACE – IN SPITE OF WITKACY (TWARZ – NA PRZEKÓR WITKACEMU) 2002. Dialogue of artists from various fields of art (photographer – painter) with the participation of a guest Franciszek Starowieyski, exploring the relationship portrait – self-portrait;
* CITIES – DIFFERENTLY (MIASTA – INACZEJ) 2005;
* WACKY LOCOMOTIVES – FOR THE GLORY OF WITKACY (SZALONE LOKOMOTYWY – KU CHWALE WITKACEGO) 2006;
* THE IDEA OF PYRAMIDS (IDEA PIRAMID) 2002–2012, doctorate 2013;
* WARSAW – SUCCESS CITY (WARSZAWA – MIASTO SUKCESU) 2014;
* MAGIC TORUŃ (MAGICZNY TORUŃ) 2007/2015/2023;
* CITIES, CITIES (MIASTA, MIASTA) 2013–2017;
* CITY DYNAMICS (DYNAMIKA MIASTA) 2014–2022;
* PYRAMIDS, PYRAMIDS (PIRAMIDY, PIRAMIDY) 2014, 2023, 2024 – development of the doctoral dissertation THE IDEA OF PYRAMIDS (IDEA PIRAMID);
In 2009 he founded and ran an etude gallery in Toruń called GALERiA'Vi.

## Academic achievements

He has given lectures, as an assistant professor, at various times and in various forms, about photography for culture experts and journalists at universities: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, University of Łódź – also in English, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, as well as for the students of the Academy of Photography in Bydgoszcz, and fine art photography lectures at the Department of Graphic Arts ASP in Gdańsk.
In 2015 he was invited as a visiting professor by the Department of Design at the Indian Institute of Technology in Hyderabad (India), where he held photography lectures for students of the Department of Design and the university-wide group.
He was a supervisor of engineering theses at the University WSB MERITO Toruń, and was appointed by a decision of the Council of the Department of Director of Photography of the Łódź Film School (PWSFTViT) as an assistant supervisor of the doctoral programme.
He has participated in art-related scientific conferences:
* PHILOSOPHY – ART (FILOZOFIA – SZTUKA). VIII Festival of Philosophy. Participation combined with a paper and exhibition of works – University of Warmia and Mazury (Olsztyn 2015);
* BEAUTY IN SACRUM (PIĘKNO W SACRUM). Białystok University of Technology (Białystok 2016);
* PHOTOGRAPHY AND MADNESS (FOTOGRAFIA I SZALEŃSTWO). Participant at the conference held on 24 – 25 November 2016 by the Łódź Film School (PWSFTViT);
* SOLIDARITY – MEMORY and IDENTITY. II International Interdisciplinary Conference – University of Gdańsk (2016);
* TRANSPARENCY IN CULTURE (PRZEŹROCZYSTOŚĆ W KULTURZE). Cardinal Stephan Wyszyński University (Warsaw 2019);
* PHOTOGRAPHY IN ART – ART IN PHOTOGRAPHY FOTOGRAFIA W SZTUCE – SZTUKA W FOTOGRAFII) (Kielce 2023) – virtual participation.

## Selected publications

He is the author of publications in Polish and English in scientific publications, e.g.: PHOTOGRAPHY AND SACRUM (FOTOGRAFIA A SACRUM). ANCIENT STRUCTURES OF EGYPT – MEDIEVAL CHURCHES OF EUROPE (STAROŻYTNE BUDOWLE EGIPTU – ŚREDNIOWIECZNE KOŚCIOŁY EUROPY). ARCHITECTURE ET ARTIBUS – 1/2017, CITY DYNAMICS – PHOTOGRAPHY EXPRESSION, CREATION PROCESS. LAP LAMBERT ACADEMIC PUBLISHING 2018, ISBN 978-613-981441-1. He has published black and white photography in the daily press, e.g. NOWOŚCI, LUSTROWANY KURIER POLSKI. Photographs in colour have appeared in Polish nationwide magazines, e.g. POLSKA, PERSPEKTYWY as well as in thematic periodicals, e.g. MÓJ DOM, AURA, POLISH ENGINEERING, ARTLUK, Quarterly FOTOGRAFIA, moreover – in the American magazine TERRA. Both, black and white and colour photographs were published in albums, e.g. CHOPIN'S REGION – UNIGRAF 2010 (REGION CHOPINA – UNIGRAF 2010), as covers for poetry volumes, e.g. Krzysztof Ćwikliński (Mediterranean Sea 1992) (Morze Śródziemne 1992) and Jerzy Rochowiak According to the Word 1992 (Według SŁOWA 1992), and scientific publications, e.g. PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT CENSORSHIP (FOTOGRAFIA BEZ CENZURY) – IPN Warsaw 2014. With the development of the Internet, many of his photographs have been published on his Facebook profile and in electronic-only publications such as BUMERANG MEDIA – Polish Internet Magazine in Australia. In 2024 the album CRUCIFIX (KRUCYFIKS) has been carefully published with photographs and according to the author's editorial concept by the Toruń Society of Arts and Sciences (TNT) ISBN 978-83-67689-17-5.

## Works in art collections

Museum collections: Museum of Art in Łódź, District Museum in Toruń, Contemporary Sacred Art Gallery in Kielce, Vistula Museum in Kazimierz Dolny, Archdiocesan Museum in Cracow,
and:
in private and public collections nationally and internationally, incl. Coventry – Great Britain, Äänekoski – Finland, Astana – Kazakhstan, Sydney – Australia, New York, Chicago – USA, Hyderabad – India, Tokyo – Japan.