WACŁAW SEWERYN RZEWUSKI
was a legendary Polish traveller (1784–1831), who blended together two archetypes: that of a Bedouin Emir and that of a knight fighting for his homeland’s independence.
Horse expert
A passion for horses was in Rzewuski’s blood. He gained an opportunity to deepen his knowledge on these animals when Princess Katharina of Württemberg commissioned him to travel to the Arabian Peninsula and import the most perfect horses from there.
Rzewuski left behind a travel diary Concerning the Horses of the Orient and Those Originating from Oriental Breeds describing absolutely everything he noticed during his voyages around the Arabian Peninsula: maps, sketches of horses, the architecture, customs and everyday objects. He adopted the local culture and dress, which quickly earned him respect from the Bedouins.
Traveller and researcher
Romantic
Being an eccentric traveller with a thirst for discovery, Rzewuski personifies the ideal of the Romantic hero. Deep in the Arabian desert, he sought a life closer to nature and solace for his troubled heart. He became an inspiration for later Polish Romantic writers: poems written in his honour included Adam Mickiewicz ("Faris") and Juliusz Słowacki ("An Elegy for Wacław Rzewuski”).
Soldier
Rzewuski loved horseback riding and fencing since childhood – military traditions were cultivated in his family for centuries. He earned admiration among the Bedouins for his riding skills and ability to wield the sabre, lance and spear. His lifelong attachment to his homeland found its culmination in his fighting in Poland’s defense during the November Uprising of 1830–31, where he perished.
THE EXHIBITION
“The Emir from Poland'' is presented for the first time at the Poland Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai, as part of “Poland. A land of plenty” temporary exhibitions programme.
This is the opening of a larger project about the amazing adventures of Wacław Seweryn Rzewuski with plans of being exhibited in different forms around the Middle East, Europe and beyond.
The exhibition was created by Stellar Fireworks and Science Now – studios specializing in original formats for experiences ranging from themed shows and attractions to immersive exhibitions. We deliver imaginative stories, characters and worlds grounded in diverse business and artistic domains.
The exhibition is organized by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. Exhibition partners: Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), National Library of Poland.
THE EXHIBITION AT EXPO 2020
COMIC BOOK
We recount Rzewuski’s incredible life in the form of animated comics – capitalizing upon the pop-culture potential of his story, examining the different personalities he embodied: driven by passion, with an incredible hunger for adventure, open to the wide world, but also harboring a deep love for his own origins. The narrative canvas of the animation is based on “An Elegy for Wacław Rzewuski” by Juliusz Słowacki.
ORGANIZER
Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland
Adam Mickiewicz Institute
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland
PARTNER
National Library of Poland
CONCEPT & PRODUCTION
Stellar Fireworks
Science Now
Jan Pomierny
Executive Producer
Łukasz Alwast
Co-Executive Producer
Katarzyna Świętochowska
Producer
Ryszard Zalewski
Krzysztof Zalewski
Mateusz Kuch
Production
EXHIBITION CREATORS
Krzysztof Noworyta
Jan Pomierny
Tobiasz Piątkowski
Concept and Scenario
Tobiasz Piątkowski
Wiesław Skupniewicz
Comics
Amal Al-Shahari
Design and Art Direction
Kosma Masny
Animation and Art Direction
Mateusz Morski
Design and Art Direction
Martyna Sykta
Content Management and Research
Aleksandra Łukaszewska
Design and Content Research
Konrad Bielecki
Texts
Magdalena Tejchma
Wojciech Lubertowicz
Mateusz Szemraj
Helena Matuszewska
Music
Magdalena Lewicka
Daniel Sax
Yousef Sh’hadeh
Translation
COMICS CREATORS
Tobiasz Piątkowski
Wiesław Skupniewicz
Scenario, Art Direction, Illustrations
Kosma Masny
Motion Design
Amal Al-Shahari
Layout Design
Charles S. Kraszewski
Yousef Sh’hadeh
Translations of “An Elegy for Wacław Rzewuski” by Juliusz Słowacki
Wojciech Lubertowicz
Mateusz Szemraj
Music
Katarzyna Świętochowska
Jan Pomierny
Krzysztof Noworyta
Łukasz Alwast
Creative Supervision
The exhibition is organized by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, a national cultural institute, whose mission is to present Polish culture and heritage on the international scene, building broad global recognition of the quality and originality of Polish culture, its artists and institutions.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich we Wrocławiu
(“Fundgruben des Orientes”)
Muzeum Wojska Polskiego w Warszawie
(Wojciech Kossak reproductions)
The Royal Castle in Warsaw – Museum
(“The Stockholm Scroll”, excerpts, after 1605, photo: Andrzej Ring,
Lech Sandzewicz)
Jerzy Dubiel
SPECIAL THANKS
Mateusz Heise – Szponem i Mieczem
The manuscript of Sur les chevaux orientaux et provenant des races orientales (Concerning the Horses of the Orient and Those Originating from Oriental Breeds) by Wacław Seweryn Rzewuski is in the collection of the National Library of Poland and is available via the digital library polona.pl.
EDUITAINMENT PACK
Stellar Fireworks
Science Now
Jan Pomierny
Executive Producer
Katarzyna Świętochowska
Producer
Konrad Bielecki
Anna Pomierny-Wąsińska
Amal Al-Shahari
Aleksandra Łukaszewska
Katarzyna Świętochowska
Jan Pomierny
Concept
Amal Al-Shahari
Visual Design
Konrad Bielecki
Anna Pomierny-Wąsińska
Aleksandra Łukaszewska
Texts
Daniel Sax
Mariia Litokh
Translation
Monika Buraczyńska
Copy-Editing
