Lem’s Bestiary Illustrated by Mróz Exhibition

Jointly presented by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Singapore and the Science Centre Singapore, the unique exhibition invites visitors to the futuristic world created by Stanislaw Lem, one of Poland’s most respected thinkers and science fiction writers who foresaw the possibilities of artificial intelligence, virtual reality and genetic engineering. 

The official opening of the exhibition took place on 9 February and was attended by several dozen people, including representatives of scientific centers and cultural institutions, the diplomatic corps and Poles living in Singapore.

The ceremony began with occasional speeches by professor Lim Tit Meng, CE of the Science Center Board, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Magdalena Bogdziewicz. Both speeches were an excellent opportunity to present not only the rich literary legacy of the famous Polish writer, deep with the intellectual reflections on the relationship between man and technology but also Lem’s visionary ideas that have found implementation in the modern world.

As part of the exhibition promoting campaign, the Embassy of Poland in Singapore, jointly with the Science Centre Singapore, organised a “The World in 2300” social media contest. Participants, impersonating “today’s Lem”, were to present their vision of our future world in 2300. The jury, consisting of the members of exhibition organizers and a journalist, selected the best works from among nearly 30 submissions. The winners were invited to participate in the opening of the exhibition, during which the awards were presented.

This visually enticing exhibition depicts fascinating characters from the fictional worlds of the futurist’s collection of books illustrated by a Polish artist Daniel Mroz who gave the perfect graphic form to the heroes of Lem’s works.

Set against a minimalistic black backdrop, these characters come alive in intricate detail through Mroz’s distinct black-and-white style of pen and ink. The illustrations, standing at their full display, welcome guests into a mind filled with deep insight into society as it progresses along with technological advances and innovations in science, technology and engineering.

The Bestiary presents Lem’s emancipated machines, somewhat ominous and simultaneously grotesque – as masterfully drawn by Mroz, accompanied by their descriptions found in Lem’s stories.