Artur Żmijewski, „Them“, 2007, Courtesy Foksal Gallery Foundation, Warsaw
Artur Żmijewski, „Them“, 2007, Courtesy Foksal Gallery Foundation, Warsaw
Opening: Friday, January 25, 2008, 7pm
>> Pictures of the
exhibition
Meeting with the artist: Saturday, January 26, 2008, 5pm
>> Miklos Erhardt in conversation with Artur
Żmijewski
Artur Żmijewski’s figure is as much contradictory as acclaimed in the international contemporary art scene. His films divide the audience: his fans and critics often praise or denounce his works along the lines of similar reasons. Besides having participated at prominent international shows, he was representative of Poland at the 2005 Venice Biennial, and last year he was guest at “documenta 12” in Kassel, one of the most significant events of the contemporary art scene. He regularly publishes articles on the social responsibility of art and raises his voice in public and political debates.
The fundamental experience of his works is how we are constricted by stereotypes and determined by the physical and the social body. The works, however, actually give rise to a completely different situation: the agitated spectator is denied the comfort of pronouncing the artist responsible and dismissing the problem as the private matter of art. The elevating, grievous, or irritating situations represented in the films all culminate in the suspension of the social contracts recognized by most of us. We suddenly glimpse things that have been right before our eyes, unperceived on account of self-defence, weakness of will, or tact; we notice the ‘différances’ scraping the smooth surface of normality. Even if his films are provocative, this provocation is directed not at the characters, but at the moralizing interpretations that tend to circumvent reality.
Duration of exhibiton: 26.1.2008 – 2.3.2008
Opening hours: MO – FR, 2 pm – 8 pm, SA – SU, 5 pm – 8 pm
Address: Trafó Gallery (at Trafó – House of Contemporary arts), Liliom str. 41, 1094 Budapest
Further information: www.trafo.hu