Wojciech Bonowicz

(b. 1967) – poet, biographer, feature writer, editor.

Graduated in Polish studies, and for a short time studied philosophy at the Jagiellonian University. He also attended Józef Tischner’s philosophy lectures at the Academy of Theology in Kraków. He debuted as Wojciech Ciura – under his mother’s maiden name – in 1985, with the poem “Najlepszym poetą jest” (The Best Poet Is) in the weekly “Radar”. Later he published pieces and features in the magazine of Jagiellonian University’s Polish studies society and took part in many poetry competitions. The first poems under his own name came out in “brulion” in 1990, after they were awarded in a competition organised by that magazine. He then published poems and reviews in “NaGłos”, and started working with “Tygodnik Powszechny” and the monthly “Znak”; in the years 1996-2000 he was a member of the monthly’s editorial team, and later worked at the Znak publishing house. A member of the programme board at the Józef Tischner Institute, is active in the Brother Albert Foundation, and in 2013 he became the Foundation’s deputy chair. He is also a board member of Anna Dymna’s “Mimo Wszystko” (Against the Odds) Foundation and of the Tygodnik Powszechny Foundation.

It was already in his debut volume “Wybór większości” (Majority’s Choice) that Bonowicz presented a cohesive, vivid poetics, which – despite certain modifications – he continues to employ in his newest books. In his short poems he looks at nuance, gradations of words, emphasising vagueness and ambiguity. His poems are condensed, gnomic, but still often governed by the poetics of the fragment – often intentionally amorphous, untranslatable and resistant to simple explanations. This is because Bonowicz does not consider the poem to be an answer, but a tool for posing questions. In “Hurtownia ran” (Wound Warehouse, 2000), we read for example: “But who am I? Sometimes you can’t / reconcile that you are and who you are”. Importantly, Bonowicz is not afraid to ask the most fundamental, even metaphysical questions. Perhaps, in fact, no other contemporary Polish poet draws on Christian inspirations more fruitfully, although Bonowicz’s poems steer clear of any confessional ostentation. They often exist like street signs whose task it is to rouse us from inattention, encourage mindfulness. At the same time, the poem’s function is rather to obscure and complicate, break the illusion of completeness, unity, complementarity. The separateness and excellence of Wojciech Bonowicz’s poems is probably due to precisely this confrontation between seriousness (but never pomposity), cumulated linguistic energy and existential inquisitiveness. Another key feature of his work is its openness: “It’s not for a kid / I think but / I show him my poems / and let him draw / new ones”. Bonowicz’s poems invite us not only to speak differently, contemplate the world and language anew, but also to be together. This is hospitable, familial poetry. Bonowicz also writes poems for children, such as “Bajki Misia Fisia” (The Tales of Miś Fiś) illustrated by Bartosz “Fisz” Waglewski (the book was included in the List of Treasures of the Children’s Literature Museum).

Bonowicz also published biographies of Józef Tischner (“Tischner”, 2001; “Kapelusz na wodzie” – The Hat on the Water, 2010) and extended interviews with Janina Ochojska, Father Leon Knabit, Tomasz Węcławski and Father Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski. He edited poetry selections by Marcin Świetlicki (“Nieoczywiste” – Unobvious, 2007), Władysław Sebyła (“Dialog w ciemności” – Dialogue in the Dark, 2012) and songs by Fisz (“Warszafka płonie” – Warszafka is Burning, 2013). He enjoys working with rock musicians as a lyricist and vocalist: he featured on albums by Lesers Bend and took part in concerts by Fisz Emade Tworzywo, Kim Nowak, Pablopavo i Ludziki and Świetliki.

He received a distinction at the first Poetry Chapbook Competition organised by “brulion” (1989), and awards and distinctions at a few competitions organised by other magazines. His book “Tischner” was nominated for the Nike Literary Award (2002). In 2007, his volume “Pełne morze” (The Open Sea) won another Nike nomination, and the Gdynia Literary Prize. In 2014 “Echa” (Echoes) received his third nomination for the Nike, and for the Wisława Szymborska Award. The volume “Druga ręka” (The Other Hand) brought him the fourth Nike nomination in 2018. In 2012 he was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit for his activity in the service of the local community, and in 2019, together with his wife Diana – the Brother Albert Medal, for their work supporting people with intellectual disabilities. In 2020 he was one of the laureates of the first edition of Kraków UNESCO City of Literature Award, and received that award again in 2022.