Central and Eastern Europe, a meeting place of diverse cultural traditions, remains a little-known area in terms of the relationship between art, spirituality and modernity. This pioneering book aims to change this situation. It was written in response to the question of what role alternative forms of spiritualitysuch as Eastern religions, esotericism and mysticismplayed in artistic practices shaped by imposed secularization and Marxist ideology in post-war socialist countries. The articles collected in this volume reveal the complexity and ambiguity of these connections, shedding light on forgotten artists, works and themes. Through this book, we invite you to take part in the enchantment of exploring a previously unknown chapter in the history of modern art.
Justyna Balisz-Schmelz, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor at the Department of the History of Modern Art, Institute of Art History, at the University of Warsaw. She researches the relevance of Far Eastern spirituality to artistic practices and art theory, as well as Carl Jungs inspirations on art.
Kamila Dworniczak, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor at the Department of Art Theory, Institute of Art History, at the University of Warsaw. She studies the significance of spirituality for the understanding of post-war realism and the relationship between word and image in spiritual practices.
