Artur Żmijewski's 2008 Lecture on Conformism, Critical Art, and Polish Monuments
On April 2, 2008, Artur Żmijewski presented a lecture entitled "My History of Art" at the Centre for Contemporary Art located in Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw. The discussion featured insights from Paweł Polit, Grzegorz Borkowski, Anna Łazar, and Stach Szabłowski. Żmijewski recounted his upbringing in Poland during the 1980s martial law, highlighting his family's passive stance towards political activism. He outlined his artistic journey, beginning with fanzines like "Pure Potato" and "Gaz-ette" alongside classmates in Chomiczówka, Warsaw, before studying under Grzegorz Kowalski at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts from 1991. He posited that effective art must resonate with the masses, critiquing the abstract public monuments in Poland while favoring narrative-driven pieces. The lecture also touched on his provocative films, including "Them" and "Repetition," and his partnership with Paweł Althamer on a quadriga project for disabled individuals, concluding with reflections on truancy and the function of museums in the context of societal memory.
Key facts
- Artur Żmijewski gave a lecture on April 2, 2008 at the Centre for Contemporary Art at Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw
- The event was part of the "My History of Art" series and included a conversation with Paweł Polit, Grezgorz Borkowski, Anna Łazar, and Stach Szabłowski
- Żmijewski described his family's conformism during 1980s martial law in Poland
- He created fanzines like "Pure Potato" and "Gaz-ette" while studying at a teacher training college in 1988-1990
- Żmijewski studied under Grzegorz Kowalski at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts starting in 1991
- He argued that good art should be conformist to have social impact
- Żmijewski critiqued Polish public monuments, preferring the Warsaw Uprising monument over the Umschlagplatz memorial
- He discussed controversial films including "Them" and "Repetition" and rejected artistic innocence in favor of political engagement
Entities
Artists
- Artur Żmijewski
- Grzegorz Kowalski
- Paweł Polit
- Grezgorz Borkowski
- Anna Łazar
- Stach Szabłowski
- Grzegorz Przemyk
- Sławek Sierakowski
- Kuroń
- Michnik
- Adina Blady-Szwajgier
- John Paul II
- Karol Wojtyła
- Miron Białoszewski
- Gustaw Zemła
- Paweł Althamer
- Waryński
- Jerzy Popiełuszko
- Agnieszka Arnold
- Grzegorz Klaman
- Katarzyna Kozyra
- Monika Zielińska
- Katarzyna Górna
- Jacek Markiewicz
- Kondratiuk
- Holland
- Leszczyński
- Wajda
- Kutz
- Konwicki
- Królikiewicz
- Shmuel Erlich
- Volker Schlöndorff
- Zbigniew Warpechowski
Institutions
- Centre for Contemporary Art at Ujazdowski Castle
- Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts
- Kowalski Studio
- Krytyka Polityczna
- Solidarność
- Home Army (AK)
- Berlin Academy of Fine Arts
- Foksal Gallery Foundation
- Warsaw Museum of Modern Art
- Obieg
- ARTMargins Online
- Stolica cinema
- Palace of Culture and Science
- Wiedza cinema
- Arkadia shopping mall
- Teatr Wielki
- Kino Muranów
- municipal art center on Nowolipki Street
- Warsaw Uprising Cemetery
- Arsenal building
- St. Stanisław Kostka church
Locations
- Warsaw
- Poland
- Żoliborz
- Chomiczówka
- Narbutta street
- Volhynia
- Berlin
- Germany
- Gdańsk
- Plac Krasińskich
- Stawki Street
- Umschlagplatz
- Treblinka
- Auschwitz
- Potsdamer Platz
- Praga
- Muranów
- Nowolipki Street
- Plac Bankowy
- Kolejowa Street
- Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie