Andrzej Wawrzyniak Museum of Asia and the Pacific in Warsaw

The Andrzej Wawrzyniak Museum of Asia and the Pacific in Warsaw, established in 1973, is the only museum in Poland dedicated exclusively to the cultures of Asia, Oceania, and Australia. It is housed in two historic, neoclassical buildings from 1854, which originally served as the city slaughterhouse. After numerous transformations and renovations, the new museum spaces were opened in 2013, allowing the integration of exhibitions, storage facilities, and workshops in a single location. The museum originated from the private collection of Indonesian artworks amassed by Andrzej Wawrzyniaka during his work in Jakarta. In addition to its Indonesian holdings, the museum boasts rich collections from countries such as Mongolia, India, Nepal, Vietnam, China, and many others, as well as works of Polish art inspired by Asian motifs. In 2016, the first part of the permanent exhibition, the Sound Zone, showcasing musical instruments from various cultures, was opened, followed in 2022 by the Journeys to the East exhibition, which displays objects from Asia and Oceania, including a comprehensive Indonesian collection. The museum also features its Oriental Oasis, a garden filled with Asian decorative objects, including a replica of a Vietnamese pagoda. The Asian Library, with its 14,000 volumes, collects scholarly publications on the cultures of Asian countries. Throughout its history, the museum has organized over 1,000 exhibitions, establishing it as a vital center for the promotion of Asian art and culture in Poland. It stands out for its unique collections, architecture, and long history, paying tribute to its founder and his contributions to the institution's development.