The main inspiration behind the exhibition W nurcie czasu. Romuald Oramus: malarstwo i grafika z lat 1981–2021 [In the stream of time. Romuald Oramus: painting and graphic art in 1981–2021] displayed in Collegium Maius was a series of pieces of art presenting medieval cathedrals.

For years, Romuald Oramus has been trying to present the context of the passage of time, be it through daily rituals or the symbolism of Gothic cathedrals, masterfully designed by medieval architects to show the complexity of our perception of time and passing. In the artist's eyes, a cathedral ceases to be a merely religious building, but becomes an attempt to show the natural order of the world and humanity’s place in it. The space enclosed inside its stone walls symbolise the synergy of physicality and spirituality.

The architectural designs in Oramus’ paintings are not simply immobile edifices that overwhelm the beholder with their grandiosity, but also living organisms that exude vitality. They are places where purely physical materialism is locked in combat with transcendent spiritualism, which escape human understanding.

The Gothic design of the interior of Collegium Maius, the oldest university building in Poland, is perfectly synchronised with the atmosphere of Oramus’ works depicting towering and proud cathedrals.

The exhibition will be open on the ground floor of Collegium Maius from 8 October 2021 to 15 January 2022: Monday to Friday from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. (technical break: 12.10 a.m.–1.00 p.m.) and on Saturdays from 10.00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. (technical break: 1.00 p.m.–1.10 p.m.).