Documentation from the Transatlantic
project, source: Radek Szlagaand Honza Zamojski / Galeria LETO
Two of Poland's most adventurous young artists set sail for the Americas in tribute to the legacy of European immigrants and the writings of Witold Gombrowicz
Radek Szlaga and Honza Zamojski, considered two of the most creative and innovative artists of the younger generation in Poland, take part in the Frieze Art Fair sharing their thoughts and analysis on a 21st century feat reminiscent of centuries past. A mere romantic whim in an age of globalisation, they embarked on a 9 day long journey from Antwerp to New York on board a cargo ship.
Radek Szlaga: "Do you think that if you checked your email account, you’d have a hundred and something emails?"
Honza Zamosjki: "Most of which would be unimportant. But I’m just as afraid that I’d get some news that would be of serious importance".
Radek Szlaga: "So, you’re afraid of getting bad news?"
Honza Zamosjki: "Yes, afraid that I’d find out that something had happened that I have no control over".
Radek Szlaga: "And what if the U.S. ceased to exist?"
Honza Zamosjki: "You mean what if something got screwed up? That there was nothing there for us now, so what’s the sense in going? Like with Witold Gombrowicz? Like when he arrives in Argentina,
and the war breaks out, so now he can’t go back to Poland, and he doesn’t even want to? Well, in that case, we stay in the U.S. and start a family".
The artists conversations reverts around Witold Gombrowicz's 1953 novel Trans-atlantyk in which the Polish writer embarks on an ocean journey and once he reaches Argetnine, he finds out about war breaking out in his native Poland. Penniless, he is stranded and taken in by a local Polish community.
Radek Szlaga and Honza Zamojski's reflections about their nine days aboard a cargo ship, connotations of Gomborwicz's novel and nostaligic contemplations about the hopes and fears of Poles traveling to the US to earn their living translated into numerous art works. Containing elements of recognisable American fiction and pop-culture, mixed with ideas from East European traditions, mythologies and poetry of immigrants, their work is displayed in a booth at Frieze resembling the space shared by them on board the ship. Drawings and maps hanging crooked on the walls, a travel journal, video documentation create the impression of a water bound vehicle.
The Frieze Art Fair takes place in New York for the first time this year with 180 galleries from around the globe showcasing various works. Transatlatic, co-organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute represents the Warsaw Leto Gallery and is part of the Focus section of the Fair.
Frieze New York
Randall’s Island Park
Manhattan, NYC
www.friezenewyork.com
Radek Szlaga - Painter, author of sculptures and objects. Co-founder of the Penerstwo art group. paintings attracted attention with their free style, bold treatment of colours, sophisticated primitivisation of form, and blending of different styles and themes. A recurring motif that would also appear in Szlaga's subsequent paintings was the word "malarstwo" ("painting") in a font copied from a Marlboro cigarette pack.
Honza Zamojski - artist and designer Zamojski presents a sharply astute commentary on contemporary culture – putting forward a style that is both sarcastic and indulgent. Zamojski clearly enjoys pop culture and all its enticing wickedness, but he’s also wildly adept at pointing out every vestige of hypocrisy and idiosyncrasy that surrounds us
Sources: Biweekly, IAM press material
Editor: Marta Jazowska