On November 9, a 20 zloty bill with Lech Kaczynski was put into circulation. Queues lined up at NBP branches across the country, with the price of this collectible currency reaching ten times its face value at auctions. Interest exceeded expectations, although it was driven by something quite different from the desire to commemorate.
NBP President Adam Glapinski approved the denomination on April 10, 2021, to emphasize the form and stature of the commemoration. On October 18, the National Bank of Poland unveiled the latest collector's bill. After the image was published, the Internet immediately reacted with memes that show exactly what is wrong with the design of this denomination.
what's on the banknote?
The author of the design is Justyna Kopecka. The banknote was kept in a blue-gold color scheme, which did not prevent the designer from placing all other colors: reds, browns, grays, black or darker shades of navy blue. The questionable choice of colors is the tip of the iceberg.
The obverse of the banknote depicts the bust of Lech Kaczynski against a background of an eagle reminiscent of the one from the time of Wladyslaw Jagiello. On the left side, the Order of the White Eagle was placed next to the security features, the signature of the NBP President and the banknote number, while on the right was an unfortunate photo of the presidential palace with the Poniatowski monument and the so-called Smolensk cross. Below the bust was the motto on the white and red flag: It's worth being a Pole. Next to it, the signature of Lech Kaczynski.
obverse of the collector's bill
© National Bank of Poland
The reverse depicts the Warsaw Uprising Museum building, a bell in the memorial wall, the Solidarity logo, three hands outstretched in a gesture of victory, a photo from the Gdansk Shipyard protests, a photo of the Katyn cemetery and a button from Katyn. A motto was also placed on this side: The memory of native history determines who we are. In addition, the banknote bears a watermark with the image of Lech and Maria Kaczynski.
reverse of the collector banknote
© National Bank of Poland
why is it bad?
The biggest problem with the new banknote is the accumulation of symbolism and its incorporation. Just listing everything that was tried to fit on a banknote the size of 15 by 7 centimeters required two paragraphs. The whole thing is made unreadable by the neglected composition. Photos, symbols, logos give the impression of being scattered without order. Above all, this small space lacks order, symbols give the impression of objects flying in the clouds, placed by chance. "Less is more" used to say the prominent architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. In this case we can say "More is less".
The image of Lech Kaczynski is also unfortunate. Instead of a uniform color tone for the entire bust, the suit stands out in strong black, while the head with shirt and tie is a delicate brown. The coat of arms behind Kaczynski is asymmetrical with respect to the figure, making the right corner appear to grow out of earshot.
Other collector bills issued by the NBP have opted for architectural objects: the Sorbonne next to a portrait of Marie Sklodowska-Curie, or the Manor in Żelazowa Wola next to a profile of Chopin. The placement of as many as four such photos alone evokes a sense of exaggeration. Theirselection further confirms this.
Source: fanpage Trust me I am an architect
© Trust Me I'm an Architect
On the right, the obverse shows a photo of the Presidential Palace, with a smaller Presidential Palace above it as a graphic form of banknote security. The frame of the photo includes a section of the Palace, the Poniatowski Monument and the so-called Smolensk Cross - an object of public controversy set up after the Smolensk disaster. Instead of depicting the Presidential Palace, the decision was made to recall an absurd situation from eleven years ago. Shouldn't the commemoration be neutral and subdued? In addition, the picture was left with a concrete pillar shattering any seriousness, which can only symbolize the concreteness that is common in Poland.
The reverse of the bill is also illegible. The Warsaw Uprising Museum, a photo of the Gdansk Shipyard strike and the Katyn cemetery do not form a meaningful arrangement. The other graphic emblems are supposed to match the background, but give the impression of being chaotically scattered. This disorder is best demonstrated by memes. We present the best ones in the article.
Source: the Institute of Design in Kielce
© Institute of Design in Kielce
clumsy attempts at commemoration
The NBP-issued banknote pales even against other collector bills. Not trying to compare it with banknotes designed by Andrzej Heidrich - the creator of the designs on the current banknotes in Poland. The originators of this form of commemoration, confident in their political beliefs, have exposed them to ridicule, as evidenced by the meme and reaction to the new collector's denomination.
Source: Tygodnik Nie
© Tygodnik Nie
The NBP's proposed form of commemorating Lech Kaczynski through the banknote is in line with the coarsely pursued historical policy of those in power, which relies on pomposity and the seizure of public space. The biggest problem is the lack of real reflection on the forms of commemoration. The choice of a picture of the Palace on a banknote is lined with cynicism. Instead of highlighting the place's stature, it reminds us of an event that should not have happened in a civil society. As with the Saxon Palace, there is a bet on grand symbolism grounded in often powerful money. Unfortunately, symbolism devoid of any consideration of what the commemoration is intended to serve.
How much more wonderful it would be if, instead of further reconstructions destructive to authenticity, pathetic monuments and banknotes saturated with symbolism, commemoration focused on creating institutions, events, parks or charitable activities that would not risk ridicule. Commemoration can also be a responsible form of support, with a greater positive contribution than the next big projects full of pathos.
