KwieKulik, image from the series "Action Dobromierz", 1972-1974, photo: press materials
Attitudes towards political and social oppression endured by Polish citizens during the censorship of socialism are at the heart of the duo's "Activities with Dobromierz"
The controversial duo Kwiekulik often looked towards their life at home to make artistic statements on social and political issues. Dobromierz, their son, was often an actor in a number of staged photographs that aimed to portray the frustration of artists in the absurd realities of socialist Poland. Using process-based experimentation, "Activities with Dobromierz" (1972-1974) show the duo's child in a variety of seemingly random situations. Characteristic elements symbolic of Polish propaganda are injected to create an unnerving statement on powerlessness and oppression.
"Combining the parental responsibilities of the artistic work", the duo once wrote, "we do all kinds of series of our son with the objects of everyday use, containers, planes - in the apartment space and the outside world". London's Tate Modern is hosting a one-day screening of dozens of Kwiekulik compositions with the baby sitting in a toilet bowl or a bucket, on the floor surrounded by vegetables and everyday objects.
The screening begins at 19:00 on April 5, 2011, organised in cooperation with the Kinoteka Polish Film Festival and the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. After the screening, a discussion between Zofia Kulik, Stuart Comer, Lukasz Ronduda and Maxa Zoller will address KwieKulik's work, its legacy, and the archival challenges presented by their radical, organic approach.
The
Kinoteka Polish Film Festival takes place in London and other cities in the UK between March 24 - April 13.
For more information in this event and the Kinoteka Polish Film Festival, see:
www.kinoteka.org.ukSource:
Tate Modern,
Polish Cultural Institute in London