"Abakamania" – A Film About Prof. Magdalena Abakanowicz
In the Background: The Śrem Foundry and the Giants of Cast Iron
Today, June 3rd, marks the pre-premiere of the long-awaited documentary Abakamania in Poznań. The film is dedicated to one of the most charismatic and internationally recognized figures in Polish contemporary art – Prof. Magdalena Abakanowicz. It’s not only a story about an artist who revolutionized the world of textile art, but also a tale of collaboration between art and industry – including our very own Śrem Iron Foundry.
Art in Cast Iron
Although Abakanowicz is primarily associated with monumental textile forms, cast iron became the material that enabled her to realize some of her most spectacular projects. Her most renowned work – Agora – consists of 106 cast iron figures, each 3 meters tall and weighing 600 kilograms, now standing in Chicago’s Grant Park. All were produced at our Śrem Foundry.
This wasn’t the only time that heavy industry became an ally of art. Earlier, in Poznań’s Citadel Park, the artist created the installation Unrecognized – 112 cast iron, anthropomorphic figures that continue to provoke emotion and reflection on the human condition.
“This was a collaboration that went far beyond standard production routines. Every sculpture was a technological challenge, but also a carrier of emotions and ideas,” says Jakub Kołakowski, Director of the PGO S.A. Śrem Iron Foundry.
“It was an honor for us to be part of this remarkable journey, and we congratulate the film’s creators on the upcoming premiere. An artist as esteemed as Magdalena Abakanowicz certainly deserves for her story to reach the widest possible audience.”
A Film About the Power of Imagination
The Abakamania script was written by Róża Fabjanowska and Sławomir Malcharek. The documentary not only traces the artist’s path to international fame but also portrays her resilience, visionary thinking, and boldness in breaking boundaries – both artistic and societal.
Though Abakanowicz achieved global acclaim, her work continues to inspire and surprise. In December 2022, a new auction record was set on the Polish art market – her sculpture group Bambini was sold for 13.6 million PLN. Until May 2023, a major retrospective of her work, Every Tangle of Thread and Rope, was exhibited at the prestigious Tate Modern in London.
Premiere Today!
The pre-premiere screening takes place on June 3rd in Poznań at 5:00 PM. The official public premiere is scheduled for June 5th at 6:00 PM at the Grand Theatre – National Opera in Warsaw.
This is undeniably a cultural event that bridges the worlds of art, industry, and film – and reminds us that great works often arise from the collaboration of people from entirely different realms.
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