Feliks Topolski

10 November 2007

Museum of London is delighted to display a selection of works by Feliks Topolski until 13 January 2008 as a taster for a major exhibition featuring the artist’s work which will open at the Museum in late 2009.

Feliks Topolski was born in Poland and started painting at the Warsaw Academy of Art. In 1935 he came to London to draw King George V Silver Jubilee celebrations and decided to stay. He became a British citizen in 1947.

Topolski was fascinated by whatever was new or different. One of the reasons he chose to stay in London was what he called its ‘exoticness’. Businessmen in bowler hats, the guards and household cavalry, red buses and telephone boxes all captivated the artist and frequently appear in his drawings and paintings of the city.

London was also the capital of the British Empire. This made it an ideal point from which to observe international events, another of Topolski’s abiding themes. During WWII, he accompanied the British military to all the main fronts, recording the events of war on soldiers and civilians alike.

After the war Topolski took commission for murals, including a painting of the Coronation for Buckingham Palace. He also made portraits including drawings of the interviewees appearing on the BBC TV programme "Face to Face". Topolski continued to work, almost like a foreign correspondent, travelling of area of unrest and political change, recording the events in rapid drawings.

After 1973 Topolski devoted much of his time to what is, arguably, his most important work the "Memoir of the 20th Century". Situated beneath the arches of the Hungerford Bridge the memoir is a cast painted installation depicting an extraordinary mix of 20th century events and elements of autobiography. In one all encompassing work it sums up the universality of Topolski's interests as an artist.

For further information and images please contact Clea Relly, Tim Morley or Stacey Witter on 020 7814 5503/5607/5511 or crelly@museumoflondon.org.uk, tmorley@museumoflondon.org.uk, switter@museumoflondon.org.uk

Notes to editors

1. Museum of London is one of the largest urban museums in the world. It is currently redeveloping its lower galleries to retell the story of London and Londoners from 1666 to the present day.  The £20.5 million project will revitalize the galleries and create a glass window overlooking London Wall.  The new galleries will open in 2009 with significantly increased access to the Museum’s collections, both in the galleries and online, and will also include a new Clore Learning Centre, a theatre and The Sackler Hall containing an information and coffee point. Find out more about supporting this project at www.museumoflondon.org.uk
2. Throughout the redevelopment work, visitors will continue to be able to discover the city's many incarnations in the London before London, Roman London, and Medieval London galleries, together with London's Burning, the Great Fire of London 1666, and a series of topical exhibitions.  A full programme of activities and events for all ages, bringing London's past and present to life, will continue.