THE AMBASSADORS
THE AMBASSADORS
PROFILE
Volume 1,
Issues 2
September 1998
Born of the ashes:
The story of an artist's struggle against the odds
Essam Farag & Malak El-Badramany
Jan Holwek, a qualified industrial and technical draughtsman, was born in the city of Lodz in Poland on June 18, 1913. After serving in the Polish army during the Second World War, he travelled to Canada to pursue his career as an artist in the city of Montreal. During his long prolific career, Holwek was offered the 1988 "Art Horizons" certificate of excellence in painting from The Major International Art Competition in New York, the 1989 certificate of excellence from "ARTITUDES" for outstanding achievement in painting. Holwek is a member of the International Association of Canadian Artists (CARFAC) and of the Professional Artists in iaa-aiap UNESCO International. The works inspired by his numerous journeys from Poland to France, Germany, USA, Canada and Egypt are a testimony to his unique artistic touch. The Ambassadors visited Jan Holwek, the 85-years-young Polish Canadian artist in his house in Dollard des Ormeaux, Montreal.
The Birth of an Artist
The artist leans his head back onto his seat and gazes into the distance from his veranda overlooking his self-grown vegetable garden.
"I still remember the many days I sat in school and painted little drawings for my teacher," says Holwek. "He really appreciated my paintings, even as such a young boy."
Holwek was discovered by his art teacher at his private school run by the Salasian Fathers in Poland. His talent was quickly recognized in his early years, and was selected to paint postcards used to mark the anniversaries of the Fathers and teachers. Some of these commemorative postcards were later printed and sold in a series.
Fighting the odds
Years later, the student Holwek was recognized by his professor at Lodz Technical School, Prof. Anthoni Karp. Prof. Karp noticed his skill in portaiture. He offered the young artist free private lessons in the theory and techniques of portait art until he graduated in 1933 as an industrial draughtsman. In 1934, he was conscripted into the Polish army for military service. Two years later, he was enrolled in the Lodz School of Fine Arts, specializing in drawing and painting portraits, landscapes, and still life.
The young artist's soaring career was disrupted by World War II. During the German invasion of Poland, Holwek was sent to a coal mine in Germany in 1940, where a pastel portrait for a young sailor changed his career. A chemist/artist, Erick Felldenhof, who worked with Holwek in the mine was able to obtain a permission for the artist-turned-miner to continue in his job as a painter and was requested to reproduce pictures of exotic birds on ceramic.
"Liberation du Strasbourg"
In 1945, after D-Day, Holwek was sent to military camps in Reims & Chauny, France where he met the famous artist, Ernesto Bregolli who invited him to help in painting frescos of evangelical scenes on the walls of churches. In 1947, he completed an oil painting, representing the "Liberation of Strasbourg" with General Lecklare followed by celebrating civilians. This painting was hung in the Chauny Town Hall. In 1948, Jan Holwek rolled up this precious painting and sent it from Chauny in France to the Polish Veterans in New York, with a letter asking for immigration to the USA. Although he waited for over 3 months in France, he recieved no reply, and until this day, half a century later, Holwek is still curious where his painting ended up and what has become of it.
After Bregolli's death, Jan returned to Germany with a government scholarship and graduated as a technical draughtsman from Ingolstadt College. He moved to Munich to attend the School of Fine Arts in 1952. Two years later, Jan's help was needed in an art gallery directed by Herbert Wirtz at Kauserslautern, to make portraits of some American officers stationed in Germany.
The Migration
In 1956, Jan Holwek decided to immigrate to Montreal, Quebec, after a chance with a Canadian immigration officer. In Quebec, he supported himself with his art for a few years, but in 1960, he returned to his profession as a technical designer. In 1975, he married Ihsan Ghally, an artist & French teacher. Her encouragement returned him to a fulltime art career. His visits to different members of her family in the USA and Egypt left fingerprints on his recent paintings. This offered him an excellent chance to visit different art galleries and museums of art. In his visit to Egypt, he was inspired by the pyramids, sphinx, pharaonic dresses and the Nile river which left an impression on his many works of art. His frequent visits to National Art Gallery in Ottawa and his analysis of other artists styles such as Picasso, Van Gogh, and Leonardo Da Vinci.
Holwek's many travels have delivered a wealth of creative works from Poland, Germany, France, Canada, USA and Egypt many of which are now among his contributions in international art galleries & exhibitions. A classic and impressionist artist in the early part of his career, Holwek became an expressionist & surrealist, working with oils and acrylics. Some of his painting are now on-show at art galleries or private collections in Germany, France, USA and Canada. He also held two solo-exhibitions in 1987 and 1988 in his hometown of Montreal. The first was held in the Pierrefonds & Dollard des Ormeaux City Library and the other was held in the Beaconsfield City Library.
The 85-year-old painter is still hard at work in his house which was transformed into a gallery with his paintings covering every one of its walls.
Hopes and Dreams
"I am always eager to find constant new ways of doing things that perfect my artistic skills. But my only dream, is to recieve a reply to the letter I sent 50 years ago to the USA with my masterpiece painting, Liberation du Strasbourg!!!"
For any further information on Jan Holwek's work please contact The Ambassadors
Some of Jan Holwek's Paintings
Old man in peace - 1972..............................Polish girl in folkloric costume-1984
Tourist invasion in Karnak Temple - 1985
A keen eye would notice Van Gogh, Rasputin, Michael Jackson
even Jan Holwek himself among the tourists
Egyptian scene - 1986
The birth of a star - 1986
In this painting, "Canada," Holwek expresses Canada as a large maple tree with
the flags of the country's provinces hanging on its branches. However, in the
shadow of the tree a gravestone stands with an engraving that reads "Aboriginal People"- 1992
Copyright ©by Jan Holwek 1998
