Karol Radziszewski's Kisieland Project Explores Polish LGBTQ Archives and Performative Reenactment

Since its inception in 2009, Karol Radziszewski's project Kisieland has explored the archival contributions of Polish gay activist Ryszard Kisiel. A notable component is the 2012 film of the same name, showcasing Kisiel's private collection of slides featuring nude and drag photography from the 1980s. These previously unseen images delve into topics such as AIDS activism and the eroticism present in Poland's concealed gay community. Additionally, Radziszewski created a performance piece called Ceremony in 2016, drawing inspiration from Kisiel's 'Indian Shamaness' identity. The project also addresses the historical backdrop of 'Operation Hyacinth,' a police operation from 1985 to 1988 that targeted homosexual men. Kisiel established Filo, the first gay zine in Eastern Europe, in 1986, which disseminated crucial HIV prevention information. Radziszewski's solo exhibition, The Prince and Queens. The Body as an Archive, took place at the Centre of Contemporary Art in Toruń in 2014, while Ceremony was featured in the Late Polishness exhibition at the Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw in 2017. The project challenges the conservative political environment in contemporary Poland, particularly in light of the far-right Law and Justice party's electoral successes in 2015 and the ongoing fight for LGBTQ rights.