Grave of Xymena Zaniewska - Chwedczuk in Warsaw.

Xymena Zaniewska-Chwedczuk ([ksɨˈmɛna zaˈɲɛfska ˈxfɛtt͡ʂuk]; b. July 4, 1924, Poznań – desc. February 12, 2016,^[1] Warsaw) was a Polish scenographer, architect, fashion designer, and interior designer.^[1]

Work

From 1958–1981 she was the designer of the set design for several hundred performances of the Polish Television Theater at Telewizja Polska (including Macbeth, School of Wives, Visit of an elderly Lady) and television programs. She was an author of stage design for 5 ballet films and created scenography for 35 classical theatrical and 15 opera performances. She also arranged 20 exhibitions at the Poznań International Fair as well as 20 foreign exhibitions.^[2]

From 1981, she was preparing fashion shows in Germany. Xymena Zaniewska was one of the characters in the documentary series by Robert Laus under the title "Twentieth Century" (2010), where the profiles of Polish artists were presented.^[3]

Personal life

Her first husband was Ryszard Zaniewski, with whom she had a son, Iwo Zaniewski. She often collaborated with her second husband, Mariusz Chwedczuk, also a scenographer.^[4]

Awards

First prize of the La Société suisse des ingénieurs et des architectes for the pavilion design - 1972.

"A Star of the Polish National Television" - an award for "scenography and personality" - 2002.

Selected works

Her most notable scenographies include:

• Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy (Warszawski Teatr Dramatyczny; 1969)
• Stanisław Moniuszko's Śpiewnik domowy (Songbook for Home Use) (Teatr Narodowy; 1982)
• Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata (Teatr Wielki, Poznań; 1983)

Decoration of merit

The Commander's Cross (Polish: Krzyż Komandorski) - 07/11/2005

The Commander's Cross with Star (Polish: Krzyż Komandorski z gwiazdą) - 11/11/1996

References