The Flag

Jakub Bąkowski’s video Flag is part of a broad-spectrum reflection on myths and beliefs of the collective consciousness as well as stereotypes and values of the social mind-set. By using an obvious symbol, the national flag, Bąkowski analyses patriotism, an attitude important to the collective image of Poles. The national symbol is used as the backdrop against which a body-builder wearing briefs and a cap rhythmically works out his arms with dumbbells. The combination of the flag and the athlete gives the work a touch of irony while the contrast between the gravity of the symbol and the banality of the exercises explodes the pathos evoked by the flag.

The methods employed by Bąkowski to analyse collective imaginary leave a lasting mark on the perception of the flag. The white and red, the national colours since the late 18^th century, seem to lose their sublime impact in Bąkowski’s work. The initial sense of indignation with the artist’s gesture soon disappears while dissonance introduced into prevalent associations and patterns of perception reveals the ambiguity of both the flag as a symbol and the patriotic stance. Thus, questions arise about the nature of patriotism and the status of national symbols.

This context evokes the Romantic national myth, fashioned at the time of Poland’s partitions and struggle for independence, which endows Polish patriotism with a quality of martyrdom and mysticism. Images of public ceremonies and traditional rituals, symptomatic of the patriotic stance, produce bombastic pathos, which makes them more decorative than authentic. Patriotism is employed in social and political life, often as an empty word. Bąkowski’s work refers to such ludic and banal understanding of patriotism. The frugal video represents a critical commentary, and the viewer inevitably perceives the symbol as an excess. It seems evident that abuse leads to devaluation of the symbol (flag) and the associated patriotism.

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translated from Polish by Marcin Łakomski