Cricoteka - Centre for Documentation of the Art of Tadeusz Kantor

Cricoteka - Centre for Documentation of the Art of Tadeusz Kantor

Cricoteka - Centre for Documentation of the Art of Tadeusz Kantor
4.5
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles40 reviews
Excellent
23
Very good
12
Average
3
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1

Theitman451
48 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
It is rare to see an exhibition of an artist's work that embeds the artist's own theories and practice into its concept and realization. This was indeed accomplished to an exceptional degree in the exhibition at the Cricoteka Museum in Krakow in the exhibition titled, "Tadeusz Kantor: Widma / Spectres."

A walkway leads you through an arrangement of objects Kantor made and used in his theatrical productions. Moving through the space, one is able to view each object in new ways and in new relationships to each other. Two mesh screens reflect projections of performances while at the same time act as a sieve. The moving images pass through and spill onto objects behind, giving them renewed life, and onto the floor in distorted, writhing patterns that disorient one's perception of space and time. And at the same time, this moving light reanimates the objects as if the actors once again took them in their hands. A subtle soundscape of creaking floorboards and dripping water add to the sense of displacement. Take full advantage of the free catalog which gives explanations of the objects and how the artist used them. It seems the curators and exhibit designers thought very carefully how to show work of this idiosyncratic artist. The objects come alive again in this room, if not exactly as they had when the actors held them, but conceptually in a way I think Kantor would recognize and appreciate.

It is an unconventional approach to museum exhibition but one that is on point for this artist's work. The space is relatively dark allowing the projections illuminate the objects revealing the intended or unintended relationships between them. The objects seem sometimes to be obscured until suddenly they are washed in patterns of moving light from the projections, themselves distorted by the forms they illuminate. The objects are not labeled or described. One is left to view them in the context of the soundless films which take on a quality of apparitions, or memories one is struggling to reclaim. I recommend spending some time in the room, the projections are not synchronized which leads to interesting juxtapositions that are constantly shifting and changing. The way this exhibition is designed, one will always find something new in it.
Written June 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Emile C
Essen, Germany4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2015 • Business
Usually, when visiting such a beautiful and historic city as Krakow is, one tends to forget that there is ,sometimes, also modern architecture to see. I love Krakow. This town has so many facets from the wonderfull St. Mary's church and the Wawel castle to the beautiful parks. And then there is the history of the jews in this part of Poland. But honestly a lot of the "jewishness" today is mere kitsch. American tourists come to see the setting of Schindlers List and refuse to listen to the guides who tell them, that Kazimiersk was the jewish quarter, but not the place where the Nazi's erected the Ghetto, because Spielberg did not think the original setting of the Ghetto was attractive enough. But very near to where Schindler had his factory there has been erected a marvellous building, coreageous in architecture and wonderful to be in. The Cricoteca, a museum dedicated to the great theater renewer, painter, teacher and art director Thadeusz Kantor, who died in 1990. The visit of this special place is really worth a whole morning or afternoon. The museum is not crowded and you will probably be moved to tears by what you hear and see. This is not just an architectural jem of the highest quality, to be compared with the Guggenheim in Bilbao, this is a museum to humanity, to the choice of freedom of expression and the responsability that comes with it. Everyone who wants to see another aspect of Krakov enjoy walking along Kazimiersk and cross the river by this beautiful pedestrian bridge and look to your left and remember to close your mouth, because what you see will make your mouth fall wide open!
Written December 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TouristBoy
Bangor, UK423 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
On a slightly damp winter day, it was a delight to come across this elegant building which offers great views across the river into Krakow centre. Lovely cafe on the top floor where we ate excellent bagels accompanied by good tea.
Written December 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Woody
Reykjavik, Iceland27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019 • Couples
Kantor and his theatre was a monumental art in his time. This building and exibition is a great triump for his work. Free entrance, wow! Thanks!
Written June 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2016 • Friends
This is the building the art of Tadeusz Kantor definitely deserves to house his most memorable works of art! Playing with your perception, changing its shape depending on the angle or time of day you look at it, once - perfectly complementing the riverbank space with its rusty exterior, while looking seemingly out of context when you look again. The new building of Cricoteka was opened in a former electric plant, redesigned in a visionary way in 2014. Those who have never heard of the creator of "Dead Class" will have a chance to encounter a great selection of works of Tadeusz Kantor inside this extraordinary building. A half of its space was arranged to resemble a theatre (Tadeusz Kantor was not only a painter or performer, but mainly a theatre director), housing the regular exhibition of Cricoteka. The drawings, stage props and pieces of stage arrengements (represeting the 7 theatrical stages of Tadeusz Kantor's development as an atrist) present there will make you experience real deja vu at times - particularly when confronted with the mannequins the performer loved using for his purposes. Feeling as if someone broke into your memory and twisted some random memories fished out from there to expose them on stage in a bizzare way is something you will not avoid experiencing if you visit Cricoteka. The other part of the museum is devoted to contemporary exhibitions, while there are also theatrical plays and performances staged there from time to time. Cricoteka itself is probably the best museum of modern art operating in Poland now. Additionally, it is located just around the corner of another attraction of Krakow - the Factory of Oskar Schindler.
Written November 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Baladeur45
Paris, France59 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2016 • Friends
On the other bank : Kantor place
Starting from the old town take the starowislina street ; cross the bridge and turn right after the Qbus hotel You will pass a modern building that frames an old building : the Circoteka a building dedicated to Kantor. Go up to the 4th floor for a coffee and enjoy the view. Then go to the third floor where a permanent exhibition awaits you. not miss this opportunity to learn more about one of the greatest 20th-century theater directors.
Tuesday is for free
Written November 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SaraJerusalem
Jerusalem107 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2016 • Couples
Cricoteka is a wonderful building, ingeniously conceived by Wizja Architects, from nsMoonStudio. The building consists of an old power station, "engulfed" by a modern, metal and glass building, right on the river. In addition to it's great architecture, the museum offers a great viewing point on the river and the city. The main exhibition is dedicated to Tadeusz Kantor, I had seen Kantor's work before, and I recommend you do a bit of reading before your visit, as Kantor was a prolific, avant-guard artist. The second exhibition, "When will I be a child again" which opened in June is also very interesting. I think this museum is a must if you like avantguard art and architecture, and want to do something different in the otherwise quite old style of center Krakow. Not far from the museum, on Josefinska St. there are two impressive pieces of street art (Lots of it in Krakow), which I also highly recommend. Both the museum and the street art will give you a taste of the vibrant art scene in this beautiful city. Highly recommended.
Written June 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hichi119
Los Angeles, CA3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Solo
Please everyone be careful, the address on TripAdvisor is incorrect. I just wasted 20-30 mins. Pick the address from their own website or google map.
Written September 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pub Monster Neil
Liverpool, UK65,052 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Friends
Showcasing the works of Tadeusz Kantor ,the famous Polish artist and designer this museum offers an insight into the world of Tadeusz Kantor ,the building that houses the museum is also very cool,a mix of old and new architecture, its a great museum and museum building that's most definitely well worth checking out if you're in the Podgorze district of Krakow.
Written March 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Neil K
Liverpool, UK829,080 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2019 • Friends
Cricoteka _ Centre For Documentation Of The Art Of Tadeusz Kantor is a museum paying homage to the works of Tadeusz Kantor who was a Polish painter,artist ,set designer and theatre director ,there are some interesting exhibits here ,I've visited here in the past and enjoyed the museum but on our latest holiday to this most beautiful of cities I chose not to visit but it's still nice while wandering around the eclectic and vibrant Podgorze district just stopping by and admiring the wonderful architecture this museum is housed in,it's a clever use of of surrounding some very interesting looking older buildings with a state of the art structure ,it looks cool and is most definitely a well known landmark building in this city,viewed from Father Bernatek Footbridge you can see the full beauty of this structure but many of the river tourist boats pass this museum offering great views.
Most definitely well worth checking out.
Written February 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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CRICOTEKA - CENTRE FOR DOCUMENTATION OF THE ART OF TADEUSZ KANTOR - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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