#zbigniew bielak

[slavghoul]

Yesterday I went on a lil trip to see Zbigniew M. Bielak's art exhibition currently being held in Poland. Majority of it is dedicated to Ghost. I didn't capture it all on photo, but the first room has all these huuuge, beautifully printed covers and artworks from every era Bielak has contributed to, from Infestissumam to Impera, so you can marvel at all the details from up close.

There was also a section with sketches and early concepts for various Ghost (and Darkthrone, I believe) artworks. I believe some of them were shared recently on ZMB's Instagram.

What I found particularly neat was that hidden between the artworks were what seem to be e-mails from Tobias with motif suggestions for Meliora and Prequelle's art. There were also some rough ideas for Impera handwritten by Zbigniew - possibly from some kind of a brainstorming session between them?

Overall a fun exhibition for a Ghost fan to see, though I wish there was some more behind-the-scenes stuff as that's what always excites me most. But still I had a blast during the whole trip, and hope to see Ghost and Mr Bielak cooperate again in the future!

[hallowed-be-thy-username]

Zbigniew Bielak’s character, Bishop Necropolitus Cracoviensis, recalls a time before Terzo was Papa, when he was Cardinal— “…even in his formative years, he remained a focused man of vision, looking far into the future, always addressing his people's needs and longings to keep our church together in those turbulent, rapidly changing times…”

My take on Cardinal Terzo— Inspo and info gathered from this post by the fabulous @slavghoul

[shawnfreki]

Artwork by Zbigniew M. Bielak.

[ghostchems]

my treat to myself for getting a badass job. zbigniew even left me a little note 😭

[judging-a-album-by-its-cover]

Impera - Ghost (2022)

Artist : Zbigniew Bielak

[saintsofvoid]

Will attempt to get better pics once I can find frames for these but am super excited to have them! Original prints from Zbigniew, 2nd addition 32/50 Ceremony and Devotion, and 1st addition 9/25 Pro Memoria!

These boys are massive like 27 x 27in I believe? The detail is incredible though and I'm excited to get them all framed nice and pretty and hung up!

[albumarchives]

Watain | Lawless Darkness (2010)

[human-antithesis]

Hermit’s Lair - Human Antithesis https://t.me/Human_Antithesis

Mgła - Age of Excuse (September 2nd, 2019) Country: Poland Genre: Black Metal Format: FLAC

Lineup:

Mikołaj Żentara - Vocals, Guitars, Bass

Maciej Kowalski - Drums

Guest/Session:

Michał Stępień - Backing Vocals

Miscellaneous Staff:

Mikołaj Żentara - Recording

Maciej Kowalski - Recording

Piotr Kurek - Icon Design

Zbigniew Bielak - Cover Art

Labels: Northern Heritage Records & No Solace

Tracklist:

Age of Excuse I - 07:29

Age of Excuse II - 06:57

Age of Excuse III - 06:16

Age of Excuse IV - 05:36

Age of Excuse V - 07:00

Age of Excuse VI - 09:06

[tierradeoz]

Cirice

Cirice is my favourite song by Ghost. I love the lyrics, which can be seen either as menacing or comforting or a bit of both. That's the most intriguing thing about Ghost lyrics, often they're like you can pick your own meaning from the words. I wanted to have the artwork to the song, so I got it. But it turned out to be quite special as it came with a note. All of the prints had been already sold, so the artist sent me a test print from 2015, which is obviously quite rare. If this was okay with me? Um... YES!!! I hung it on my bedroom wall because to me the song and lyrics are quite comforting.

I can feel the thunder that's breaking in your heart I can see through the scars inside you

[ibikus]

Portrait of Innocent X by Diego Velázquez | Details of Ghost's Prequelle Album Art by Zbigniew M. Bielak (X) | Św. Hieronim by Hans Memling

[slavghoul]

From Zbigniew M. Bielak:

Before it became what you all know, Impera started out as a whole different beast. When I began working on the cover art, I was still very much oriented towards dark and unsettling vibes set by Mgła and Imperial Triumphant cover artworks I did not long before. In my work I always strived to balance elusive feeling of unease and some kind of monumentalism, as I believe that’s what makes art great. It’s not easy and it relies on nuance if anything. So naturally I wanted to convey such grim vibes on Impera, pushing it toward Giger vibes present on To Mega Therion cover as it resonated very well with the Crowley theme. Albeit less literal and more abstract with emphasis on unholy geometry of heptagrams and new grucifix. In the meantime we decided to bring out the cathedral interior and as you can see from last images, I redrew all the architecture retaining basic geometry along the cityscape on back cover. I also mirrored the centerfigures face and hands for I believe much better visual balance. So, there you go - everything good is born in throes of painful process. And all that for the better in the end. Enjoy.

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

ℨ𝔟𝔦𝔤𝔫𝔦𝔢𝔴 𝔐. 𝔅𝔦𝔢𝔩𝔞𝔨

[shawnfreki]

Artwork by Zbigniew M. Bielak.

[myvinylplaylist]

Ghost: Meliora Deluxe Edition (2015)

2023 Limited Edition Indie Exclusive Reissue on Translucent Yellow Vinyl.

Deluxe Edition Inclues the Popestar EP

Album Artwork by Zbigniew M. Bielak

Loma Vista Recordings

[judging-a-album-by-its-cover]

Infestissumam - Ghost (2013)

Artist : Zbigniew Bielak

[drondskaath]

Zhrine | Unortheta | 2016

Icelandic Black Metal

Artwork by Zbigniew M. Bielak

With recent stirrings from the Zhrine camp I’ve been revisiting this masterpiece. Heralded and revered; a monument to it’s place in time. Unortheta. 

https://zhrine.bandcamp.com/album/unortheta