Archiwalna
Returning to Białowieża
The exhibition Returning to Białowieża is a part of a research-artistic project with the same title, being a critical look at the traditional Białowieża Plein-Air Sessions and conscious shaping of the idea of outdoor locations as a platform that enables the realization of creative activities. The initiative is based on original concept, the parts it consists of – outdoor location, outdoor exhibition, publication and cooperation with other subject – become not only its elements, but moreover a certain method of work.
13.05.2016 – 23.06.2016
Arsenal Gallery, ul. A. Mickiewicza 2, Białystok
The main inspiration for the originators of the project and exhibition organizers, that is Tomasz Koszewnik and Jan Szewczyk, is the context of nature – of the Białowieża Forest – and the traditions of the meeting of artists on its area, which were organised by the Bureau of Art Exhibitions (Biuro Wystaw Artystycznych, BWA)in Białystok and the Association of Polish Artists and Designers (Związek Polskich Artystów Plastyków, ZPAP). It is worth mentioning, that in a decades-old tradition of Białowieża outdoors the year 1983 might be perceived as exceptional. This year PhD Bożena Kowalska organised an artistic convention, that was some kind of prelude to international symposiums under the sign of geometrical abstraction, the trend that was strongly promoted by Bożena Kowalska. This outdoor location was an opportunity to redefine the idea of artists’ meetings with the nature itself.
The project Returning to Białowieża started in 2015 with a summer outdoor location with Prof.Marek Wasilewski and students of Interdisciplinary PhD Studies at the University of Arts in Poznań.Institutional background was the Jan Józef LipskiOpen University of Teremiski. Several days of residence was not only an attempt to familiarize with the unique prehistorical landscape of the forest, but also an attempt to familiarise with the activity of local community, including PhD students of the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciencesor Culture Practitioner’s Association(Stowarzyszenie Praktyków Kultury).Above all it was a great opportunity to exchange the knowledge between particular disciplines and also to test new forms of didactics within the frames of artistic studies.
The exhibition in the Arsenal Gallery in Białystok is the effect of this Białowieża scientific and artistic outdoor location.At the beginning of 2017 a report will be published, the presentation of which will take place in Zachęta Project Room in Warsaw during the exhibition that will finalise the project.
Curators: Tomasz Koszewnik, Jan SzewczykRelated event:
Guided tour on May 14, 2016, at 11 am (with Polish sign language interpreter)
Prof. Marek Wasilewski and students of Interdisciplinary PhD Studies at the University of Arts in Poznań: Przemek Branas, Jakub Czyszczoń, Michał Grochowiak, Justyna Górowska
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Opening times:
Thuesday – Sunday
10:00-18:00
Last admission
to exhibition is at:
17.30