When in 1996 we decided to revive EMPiK’s calendar competition I imagined no other venue for it than the Poster Museum. So, one summer day in July or August, feeling rather diffident, I went to Wilanów and set foot in the Museum’s hall, hoping to get some feedback and learn whether it was actually possible to organize an event there. My lack of confidence stemmed from the fact that I knew nobody in the Museum and wasn’t sure what kind of welcome I could expect. But I kept my head high and boldly stepped up to the reception desk.

Kind ladies immediately referred me to the Director. Piotr Wojnowski, the person in question, proved to be very approachable and open-minded. He understood my case in a flash and declared no objections but said that he needed an approval of Mrs. Curator. And he presently showed me to her. Krystyna Spiegel was in the middle of a TV interview and, somewhat irritated with the crew’s clumsiness, listened impatiently to the few sentences I managed to stutter. But they were enough to win her full acceptance.Basically, everybody in the Museum behaved like they had long expected my visit. I in turn felt like in a Kieślowski-style movie with elements of the occult and magic, where destiny, like a fairy with a wand, opens all doors before the protagonist.
To be true, I was a little brought down when I heard that Mrs. Krystyna Spiegel would retire by the end of the year but she went on to ascertain me that she would hand everything over to her successor so that things would go on smooth. The successor was Maria Magdalena Kurpik. And everything went on smooth. During the 16 years that followed I spent in the Poster Museum 32 amazing days. Out of these, 16 were Jury meetings and the other 16 – opening ceremonies with prizes presented on stage to the winners. I saw hundreds of remarkable entries and met several outstanding people. As grand and banal as it may sound, I regard Vidical as the work of my life and my greatest adventure.
And now a short note lies in front of me stating that the „calendar exhibition is not featured in the organizational plan [of the Poster Museum] for next year and the following years.” I stare at the writing time and time again and can’t believe that it’s all over. End of story! And if it hadn’t been, shortly afterwards we received another and decisive blow when Heidelberg Polska, our long-time main sponsor, decided to discontinue their Vidical involvement.
16 years gone and we need to start from scratch.

But I’m turning 60 now and I don’t feel the strength to start all over again. Besides, I’m not sure whether in these so-called hard times you can hope for the rescue of a sinking ship – or rather one that’s being sunk.
Maybe Vidical’s time is done, simply. Maybe all this was a dream and we have to wake up. I’ve had a growing feeling recently that hardly anybody cared about Vidical except for Zbyszek (Płatek) and me. Zbyszek’s wife, Jola, cared too but she passed away more than a year ago and who needs to count days and hours on the other side. Perhaps her absence is the reason why everything is falling apart.
But I don’t intend to pour out grievances here. I’m writing to thank, at least in this way, Krystyna Spiegel, Maria Kurpik, Piotr Wojnowski, Anna Torończyk, Sławomir Krym and the staff of the Poster Museum (each and every person). Thank you for your kindness, support and giving us the opportunity to organize 16 wonderful exhibitions. We’ve done one heck of a good job that nobody needed anyway. That counts. It can’t be undone or forgotten. No way.
Only sorrow remains… and nothing for consolation.

Andrzej Zabielski