Andrzej Pitynski
Encyclopedia
Andrzej Pitynski is a Polish-American monumental sculptor who lives and works in the US.
A book of his works was published in 2008.
, where it had stood since 1983. Although it was originally destined for Warsaw
, the work - which depicts guerrilla Polish freedom fighters in World War II
- was not welcomed in communist Poland at that time. On September 6, 2006, the work was moved to the MBTA's Silver-Line World Trade Center Station
on the South Boston waterfront.
Describing his "Partisans" Pitynski said, that he dedicated this monument to all "Fighters for Freedom in the World", and used Polish Partisans as an example.
I was creating 'The Partisans' in the United States, when Poland was changing, when the SB [Pol. abr. Sluzba Bezpieczenstwa - Eng., Polish secret police] was murdering priests, students, and workers. I was creating this monument thinking about them all, about those thousands of the bravest Sons and Daughters of the Polish Nation, who were the first to stand up to the Soviet communism. They were betrayed by world and forgotten by God - a choice they made themselves - in the forest units of: NOW, AK, WiN, NSZ. They fought bravely with NKVD, Soviet Red Army; and with Polish traitors from the UB, KBW, MO, ORMO, [with all] 'consolidators of the people's [communist] regime. They fought because they never reconciled to give up their freedom. [They were] hunted in the forests like wild beasts, they were tortured in the UB dungeons, they were abused with the vindictive pleasure [of their oppressors], they were murdered in the MO torture houses, were buried illicitly at night in the graves that are unknown to this day. It is for THEM, that I created this symbol of the Golgotha of Polish Heroes.
including the Katyn Memorial which stands in Exchange Exchange Place in Jersey City, New Jersey and the National Katyń memorial which stands in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.
A book of his works was published in 2008.
The Partisans
In January, 2006, his Partisans (1979) was removed from the corner of Beacon and Charles streets on the Boston CommonBoston Common
Boston Common is a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts. It is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "Boston Commons". Dating from 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States. The Boston Common consists of of land bounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street,...
, where it had stood since 1983. Although it was originally destined for Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, the work - which depicts guerrilla Polish freedom fighters in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
- was not welcomed in communist Poland at that time. On September 6, 2006, the work was moved to the MBTA's Silver-Line World Trade Center Station
World Trade Center (MBTA station)
The World Trade Center station is a transportation station in Boston, Massachusetts, on the MBTA's bus rapid transit Silver Line. The station is located on Congress Street at C Street/World Trade Center Avenue on the South Boston Waterfront...
on the South Boston waterfront.
Describing his "Partisans" Pitynski said, that he dedicated this monument to all "Fighters for Freedom in the World", and used Polish Partisans as an example.
I was creating 'The Partisans' in the United States, when Poland was changing, when the SB [Pol. abr. Sluzba Bezpieczenstwa - Eng., Polish secret police] was murdering priests, students, and workers. I was creating this monument thinking about them all, about those thousands of the bravest Sons and Daughters of the Polish Nation, who were the first to stand up to the Soviet communism. They were betrayed by world and forgotten by God - a choice they made themselves - in the forest units of: NOW, AK, WiN, NSZ. They fought bravely with NKVD, Soviet Red Army; and with Polish traitors from the UB, KBW, MO, ORMO, [with all] 'consolidators of the people's [communist] regime. They fought because they never reconciled to give up their freedom. [They were] hunted in the forests like wild beasts, they were tortured in the UB dungeons, they were abused with the vindictive pleasure [of their oppressors], they were murdered in the MO torture houses, were buried illicitly at night in the graves that are unknown to this day. It is for THEM, that I created this symbol of the Golgotha of Polish Heroes.
Katyn Memorials
Pitynski has worked on a number of works remembering the Katyn massacreKatyn massacre
The Katyn massacre, also known as the Katyn Forest massacre , was a mass execution of Polish nationals carried out by the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs , the Soviet secret police, in April and May 1940. The massacre was prompted by Lavrentiy Beria's proposal to execute all members of...
including the Katyn Memorial which stands in Exchange Exchange Place in Jersey City, New Jersey and the National Katyń memorial which stands in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.