Tomasz Koszewnik par excellence

I have been connected with the Gallery for as long as I can remember. Actually, it is the only art institution I had the opportunity to visit when I was a child. In terms of artistic character, this place soon became an essential point of reference for me. And now it turns out that it’s the place where my childish dreams come true. Although now it may seem naive, what I really dreamt of was exactly an exhibition in this gallery. At that time I didn’t have any particular concept, since I didn’t know what it meant, and I thought of an exhibition of art as such. And however absurd it may sound, today I would simply call it the idea of Art.

Inspired by the past story I have decided to recall it at my first solo exhibition at Galeria Arsenal. And so referring to what I believed the idea was, I have bricked up the entrance to the rooms at my disposal in order to close Art in itself. One could say, within its four white walls that do not hide nothing special behind. Although first associations may bring to mind exactly such solution, interpreting it only as a place would strongly limit the idea I have set out to define. The specific time allowed me to tackle the problem in a relatively broad way. It is the time in which I function in general, but it is also the time of the public institution with which we have decided to share it. Above all, it is the time when the Gallery is celebrating its 50thanniversary and the time when, I suppose, it has achieved what it meant to, just like I have.

It turns out that dreams which have come true acquire new destination. They cease to be aspirations and evolve into a moment of passage and reflection. A moment of pause between situations we resign at a time when we are fulfilled.

Each person, however, does not see something different.

Tomasz Koszewnik

Born in 1986 in Białystok, Poland. He lives and works in Poznań. He studied Cultural Anthropology at the University of Warsaw, Intermedia at the University of Arts in Poznań and as a visiting student in the Mirosław Bałka Studio of Spatial Activities at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in the Audiosphere Studio under the supervision of Prof. Leszek Knaflewski. Since 2014 he has continued his studies in the Intermedia Department and Photography Department at the University of Arts in Poznań. Scholar of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the President of Białystok and the President of Poznań. The winner of the main prize in the “Wspólny projekt”(Common Project) contest sponsored by Muzeum Sztuki (Museum of Art) in Łódź and ING Polish Art Foundation. He was honoured in the competition Talenty Trójki (Talents of the Polish Radio “Trójka”) organized by the Polish Radio Program Three. Nominated for the “Przeciąg” (Draught) Young Art Festival, the “Fish Eye” Young Art Biennial, Hestia Artistic Journey, WRO Media Art Biennale or the Youth Triennialsat the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko.

Selected solo and group exhibitions / projects:

2015

Retuning. Leszek Knaflewski and Soundscape, Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski

Castle, Warsaw

Crackle, CCA Kronika, Bytom

WRO Media Art Biennale, WRO Art Center, Wrocław

Redreaming, Galeria Labirynt, Lublin

2014

The Night Isn’t Dark Enough – A Summary(Common Project), Muzeum Sztuki w Łodzi, ING Polish Art Foundation, Łódź

Distinguishing Features, WRO Art Center, Wrocław

Points of View, Centrala Gallery, Birmingham

2013

Hryniuk / Koszewnik / Łazarczyk / Olszewski / Polska / Rudzin, Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow MOCAK, Krakow

“Fish Eye”. The Young Art Biennial, Baltic Gallery of Contemporary Art, Słupsk

Inclusions, Fryderyk Chopin Museum, Żelazowa Wola

Certainty, BWA Gallery, Warsaw

2012

Swimming Pool, TIFF Festival, Wrocław

“Contexts 2012”. The 2nd Sokolovsko Festival of Ephemeral Art, Sokołowsko

No Budget Show IV, Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow MOCAK, Krakow

New Situations, Malta Festival, Poznań

Crisis, Wrocław Contemporary Museum, Wrocław

Happy Birthday Mr. Fluxus, Zamek Culture Centre, Poznań

2011

XIX Century vs. XXI, National Museum, Krakow

“Przeciąg”. The Festival of Young Art, Zachęta Gallery, Szczecin

Give Voice, Zona Sztuki Aktualnej gallery, Szczecin

Youth Triennials, Centre of Polish Sculpture, Orońsko

tomaszkoszewnik.com

Media patrons:

Curator: Monika Szewczyk
Tomasz Koszewnik