HUBERT CZEREPOK. History and Utopia

The latest project History and Utopia is both tracking authentic, though seemingly improbable stories, but also those that could be true. Documents and archival materials are mingled with creations and fakes. The artist uncovers the things, we would rather not know about, not remember.

The exhibition presents projects like Haunebu, the result of long search for evidence of the existence of the mysterious Wunderwaffe (Ger. ’wonder-weapon’)– a vehicle in the shape of an anti-gravity flying saucer, which was supposedly invented by Nazis at the end of the Second World War and transported to their base in Antarctica.

The video Reaching the Stars applies to the program of the Institute of Aviation in Warsaw that concernedthe construction of meteorological rockets in the 60’s. The program was closed despite the apparent success of our scientists. It is of a particular importance with respect to the appointment of the Polish Space Group Parliament of the Republic of Poland in 2006.

Lux Aeternais a video shot in Norway, build up as a contrast between visual side – the beauty of Scandinavian nature and the commentary, critical reflection on the future of the world, consisting of quotations of Juliusz Słowacki, Thomas Jefferson, Adolf Hitler or Anders Breivik.

The exhibition also includes objects, series of drawings as well as neon objects like: Nigdy nie będziesz Polakiem! (You will never be a Pole!) that relates to the football banner of Odra Wodzisław supporters (‘Roger – nigdy nie będziesz Polakiem!’ / Roger, you will never be a Pole!) and Tylko szczęście jest prawdziwym życiem (Only happiness constitutes real life) – quotation of Zuzanna Ginczanka, poet, forgotten for many years, executed for her Jewish origin in Krakow in 1944 during the Second World  War.

Hubert Czerepok (born 1973) in 1999 received a diploma under the supervision of Prof. Izabella Gustowska and Prof. Jan Berdyszak at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznań. In 2002–2003 he studied at Jan Van Eyck Academie in Maastricht, and in 2004–2005 at the Higher Institute for Fine Arts Flanders in Antwerp. In 2000–2002 he made up the artistic duo with Zbigniew Rogalski.
He currently works as an assistant professor in the Department of Intermedia at the University of Arts in Poznań. His artistic activity includes different media: from video, animations, found footage films through installations, photographs, drawings, neons to the realizations in public space.
Czerepok is a researcher focused on identifying and analyzing ambiguous, doubtful and alarming situations. His fields of interest include: the condition of artistic environment and institutional critique, the role of image in visual culture, the relationship between fiction and reality, paranormal phenomena, conspiracy theories, prophecies, xenophobic obsessions and their functioning in the society.

Related events:

6.04.2013, 11 a.m.– meeting with the artist Hubert Czerepok with participation of the exhibition curator Monika Szewczyk,
including tour of the exhibition