Record-breaking auction by Spragnieni Piękna (Thirsty for Beauty). Warsaw once again became a stage for art and generosity.

The tenth anniversary edition of the charity auction Spragnieni Piękna (Thirsty for Beauty) took place in Warsaw, in the monumental spaces of the National Museum. Now – an event that has been bringing together the worlds of culture, art and philanthropy for years. On 27 October, collectors, artists and patrons gathered for an elegant dinner to bid on unique lighting objects by Marek Bimer, which had been creatively transformed by the most outstanding Polish artists. The auction results exceeded the organisers’ expectations – all the works found buyers, and the total sales amount reached a record PLN 816,000, which will be allocated to the development and conservation of the contemporary art collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

The Spragnieni Piękna (Thirsty for Beauty) initiative is more than just an auction – it is an idea of contemporary patronage, which aims to create a community around cultural institutions and support their activities through social engagement. The project, implemented by the Friends of the National Museum in Warsaw Association in cooperation with DESA Unicum, has been bringing together people for whom art is a way of expressing values and sensitivity for a decade. This year’s edition was preceded by an open vernissage at the DESA Unicum headquarters, where art lovers could take a closer look at Bimer’s sculptural lamps – objects combining light, form and symbolism.

This year, the artists who took part in the project created an extremely diverse dialogue between light and matter. The artists included Paweł Althamer, Anna Barlik, Monika Falkus, Maurycy Gomulicki, Tomasz Górnicki, Ida Karkoszka, Olga Mokrzycka, NeSpoon, Monika Patuszyńska, Olga Wolniak, Xawery Wolski, Olga Tokarczuk and Joanna Concejo. A painting by Marta Nadolle was also auctioned off and, like Bimer’s light sculptures, found its way into private collections. Each work, unique in its form, combined artistic courage with an emotional message – a tribute to light, which has inspired artists for centuries.

During a gala dinner at the Main Building of the National Museum in Warsaw, in an atmosphere of conversations about art and beauty, the highest amounts in the history of this series were raised. As Paweł Kastory, president of the Friends of the National Museum Association, emphasises, ‘the generosity of the Museum’s guests and friends allows us to implement ambitious cultural projects and inspire others to take action.’ These words perfectly capture the spirit of the evening – combining passion with responsibility for our shared heritage.

The Friends of the National Museum in Warsaw Association, founded over a century ago, continues the tradition of patronage in a modern form. Since 2015, it has been building a community of Beauty Seekers, bringing together artists, collectors and art lovers around the idea of supporting Polish cultural institutions. The main partner of this year’s dinner was Pagani of Warsaw, which once again proved that the worlds of motoring and art can harmonise – presenting unique Bugatti and Pagani models at the event.

The anniversary edition also involved DESA Unicum, Artinfo.pl and Wydawnictwo Format as auction partners, as well as supporting brands – Domoteka, Perlage, Hennessy, Winne Pola, Winnica Pałac Mała Wieś, Polska Rada Biznesuand Stowarzyszenie Komunikacji Marketingowej SAR. The entire event was organised in cooperation with the Plejagency, and communication of the anniversary was supported by the OKK! PR agency, giving the event media glamour and an elegant tone.

This year’s edition of Spragnieni Piękna showed that art can be not only a source of aesthetic experiences, but also a real force for change. At a time when culture needs bold patrons, it is initiatives such as this that remind us that beauty has the power to unite people and inspire them to act.

Author: Luxury Boutique