Guenter Grass

Guenter Grass remains an important figure in Gdansk - a city of around half a million people on Poland's Baltic Sea coast. The Nobel-Prize-winning writer and artist was born there in 1927, a time when Gdansk was a semi-autonomous city-state covering an area that had formerly belonged to the German Empire.

Today, Grass still has a presence in various aspects of Gdansk's public life. The latest manifestation of his legacy is the newly opened Guenter Grass Gallery. It showcases Grass' works of art and hosts workshops, lectures and literature evenings. It also houses a virtual Guenter Grass museum. An adjacent theme cafe is also being built, due to be finished in summer.

The gallery is located in the heart of Gdansk's old town. The graphics and sculptures currently on display originate from collections at the Gdansk National Museum. However, thanks to international contacts, further works are due to be added to the exhibition in the future.

Guenter Grass himself has already started this process. He donated a number of his drawings to the gallery's official opening in October. He also supported the construction and running of the gallery from the very start.

Shadows of the past

The relationship between Grass and the city of Gdansk was not always this good. Over three years ago, he was heavily criticized in Poland when he admitted his membership in Waffen-SS - a Nazi combat squadron - during World War II. Poland's former president, Lech Walesa, even wanted to withdraw Grass' status as an honorary citizen of the city of Gdansk.

However, the wounds have healed since then, and the best evidence of this was the crowd of people that cheered at the opening of the Grass Gallery in Gdansk.

Today, Gdansk could just as well be called "Grass City;" the artist appears in many facets of public life. The largest institution dedicated to the writer is the Guenter Grass Society, with over 100 members. One of them is Andrzej Fac. His late father, Boleslaw, had organized all Guenter-Grass-related events in Gdansk for over 30 years. Fac was just a young boy when Grass paid his family a personal visit.

"My late father and my mother were friends with Guenter Grass since the early 60s," said Fac. "All the Grass graphics on the walls are evidence of this friendship. We also have his books, letters and other items."

Apart from celebrating his life and work, Grass believes that the city of Gdansk has also learned something from his writing, which includes the renowned novel, "The Tin Drum."

"Many Poles have told me that my books helped them understand the earlier history of the city - the time when the Germans still lived here."

Author: Katarzyna Tuszynska (ew)
Editor: Kate Bowen