Polish Pavilion at Venice Biennale Explores Language Fluidity with Underwater Film
At the 2024 Venice Biennale, Poland showcases 'Liquid Tongues,' a captivating audio-video piece by Bogna Burska and Daniel Kotowski. This installation features the Chór w Ruchu, a choir made up of both hearing and deaf members, with much of the footage shot underwater in a swimming pool in Warsaw. Curated by Ewa Chomicka and Jolanta Woszczenko, it plays on two screens, including one positioned above viewers, and draws inspiration from whale songs to examine different ways of communicating. Building on a 2023 performance at the Zachęta National Gallery, this project contrasts with a previous Polish entry that was canceled. The choir, which began in 2014, adapts its members for each project, communicating in spoken English and International Sign for this exhibition.
Key facts
- Polish pavilion at 2024 Venice Biennale presents 'Liquid Tongues'
- Artists: Bogna Burska and Daniel Kotowski
- Features Chór w Ruchu with hearing and deaf performers
- Content recorded underwater in a Warsaw swimming pool
- Two screens, one suspended above visitors
- Inspired by whale song to explore alternative communication
- Curated by Ewa Chomicka and Jolanta Woszczenko
- Builds on 2023 performance at Zachęta National Gallery of Art
- Previous Polish entry by Ignacy Czwartos was cancelled by Donald Tusk's government
- Choir founded in 2014, uses spoken English and International Sign for Venice
- Filming in Baltic Sea last summer informed concept
- Underwater filming required extensive rehearsals
- Kotowski is deaf, fine-tuned signed performances for deaf audiences
- Underwater setting distorts speech but preserves sign language
- Choreography by Alicja Czyczel, score by Aleksandra Gryka
Entities
Artists
- Bogna Burska
- Daniel Kotowski
- Ignacy Czwartos
- Ewa Chomicka
- Jolanta Woszczenko
- Alicja Czyczel
- Aleksandra Gryka
Institutions
- Polish pavilion
- Venice Biennale
- Chór w Ruchu
- Zachęta National Gallery of Art
- Open Group
Locations
- Poland
- Venice
- Italy
- Warsaw
- Baltic Sea