Exhibition area Witold Gombrowicz

The museum area “Witold Gombrowicz” opened its gates on September 23rd, 2017 in the Villa Alexandrine, the same place where the Polish writer lived from 1964 to 1969 with his wife Rita. The Belle Epoque Villa from 1911, bought by the city in 1988, was renovated by the city of Vence with the precious help of the Polish state.

The exhibition highlights the complex and ambiguous personality of the Polish writer Witold Gombrowicz, opponent of the sacrosanct ideals and intellectual stereotypes of his time. Reading excerpts selected from his work, introduces us to the universe of Gombrowicz’ thoughts, who reveals, explains and comments the mysteries of his art. By using intellectual provocations, fictions or fantasies, by adopting different stances, by putting on and removing successive masks, this iconoclastic author forces the reader to step back and to enter with him into a “game” contrasting the mass mythology and exalting individual rights. We would like to point out that the intention of the organisers of the exhibition was not to present an already existing portrait of the writer, but to invite the visitors to create a personal relationship with Gombrowicz which would stimulate their own reflection.