Karol Radziszewski's Queer Archives Institute Exhibition at Berlin's Schwules Museum

From June 20 to September 23, 2019, the Schwules Museum in Berlin showcased the Queer Archives Institute collection by Polish artist Karol Radziszewski. This exhibition aimed to shift private queer narratives into the public sphere, utilizing archival materials from Eastern Europe. Among the highlighted works were collaborations with Polish gay activist Ryszard Kisiel, featuring his samizdat zine Filo and his photographic records of gay venues. Additionally, the show included a video interview with Croatian transgender activist Romana Bautič and erotic illustrations by Kazimierz Wiśniak. Radziszewski reinterpreted archival elements with interventions like wallpaper inspired by Kisiel's AIDS logotype and a sculptural display of 69 VHS tapes from Krzysztof Jung's porn collection. Curated by Ricardo Carmona, this exhibition was part of the "The Present is Not Enough" festival.