OLD/NEW POSTERS’ 2026 BY JAKUB BALICKI

To mark the 22nd “Giornata del Contemporaneo” (Contemporary Art Day) promoted by AMACI, the exhibition *OLD/NEW POSTERS’ 2026 BY JAKUB BALICKI* will be presented on Saturday, October 10, 2026, starting at 11:00 AM at La Nisolina Art Space (Via Mameli 63, Lu e Cuccaro Monferrato, AL). Jakub Balicki is a Polish artist and lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź; he is a prominent figure who has frequently won awards in prestigious international competitions and exhibitions. While his posters originate from the intent to advertise an artistic or cultural event, in this setting, they take on the full significance of autonomous works of art. Yet, their natural habitat is the public space—whether open-air or indoors—places frequented by people who pass through or linger briefly, often with expectations quite different from those associated with the intentional, intensive appreciation of art. It is, therefore, a unique opportunity to view a curated selection of Balicki’s artistic repertoire up close in this exhibition. Through this show, we witness a duality in the work’s meaning: on one hand, it serves as a tool for communication, while on the other, it stands as an independent artistic expression. Undoubtedly, capturing attention in an era of image saturation is one of the most challenging tasks imaginable—especially when the intended message requires the viewer to grasp a complex, multifaceted composition. It involves text and images, certainly, but also images that transform into typographic characters—often custom-designed to suit the specific event. These typefaces merge to create a visual identity that defines the event, acting much like a logo or a signature brand mark. Shapes and colors designed to leave a lasting impression on the viewer’s senses. These are works of striking visual impact, striking a delicate balance between pure emotional perception and a clear, articulate message. After all, creating and teaching poster design is—above all—about conveying graphic and expressive quality alongside direct textual content; otherwise, we would simply be dealing with a visual vehicle for information. Undoubtedly, achieving this balance is often a challenging task, one that shakes the viewer out of the comfort zone of mere information-seeking and transports them “inside” the artwork. At times, the apparent simplicity with which Jakub Balicki conveys textual meaning masks a sophisticated process—one that can only be fully grasped by considering the context for which the message was intended.
The exhibition can be viewed by appointment (at 3387507298) throughout October 2026; in the future, it will always be possible to request to see the posters, as they are part of the Nisolina Art Space collection.