Bar Topolski facts for kids
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Bar Topolski is a fun bar and cafe located under the Hungerford Bridge arches in London, England. It's on the famous South Bank of the River Thames. Before it became a bar, it was a special art gallery called the Topolski Century. This gallery showed a huge and amazing artwork created by a famous artist named Feliks Topolski (who lived from 1907 to 1989). In 2013, the gallery changed into the bar and cafe you see today. Some of the artwork is still there for people to enjoy, while other parts were moved to a private studio.
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What is Bar Topolski?
Bar Topolski is a lively spot where people can get drinks and food. It's known for its cool location right under the railway arches. What makes it extra special is its history as an art gallery. Even though it's now a bar, it still keeps a connection to the incredible art that used to fill the space.
The Amazing Artwork by Feliks Topolski
The main attraction of the original gallery was a giant artwork by Feliks Topolski. He was a Polish-born British artist known for his unique drawing style. This artwork was like a huge, long painting, or a mural, that wrapped around the walls. It was called Memoir of the 20th Century.
A Look at the 20th Century
Feliks Topolski started working on this massive art project in 1975. It was officially opened in 1984 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The artwork gives you a wide, "panoramic" view of important events and people from the 20th century. Imagine a giant comic strip or a historical timeline drawn on walls! This amazing mural is about 183 meters (600 feet) long. It's also very tall, reaching between 3.7 and 6.1 meters (12 to 20 feet) high. Feliks Topolski continued to work on these panels until he passed away in 1989.
From Gallery to Cafe
The Topolski Century gallery was a unique place to see art. However, over time, not enough people visited the gallery. Also, the cost of renting the space went up. Because of these reasons, the gallery decided to change. In 2013, it transformed into Bar Topolski. This way, people can still enjoy the space and some of the artwork, but in a different, more social setting.
External links
- Bar Topolski website
- Feliks Topolski: Tate Britain
- Feliks Topolski: National Galleries of Scotland
