Two photography retrospectives on exhibit in Warsaw take an expansive view of the medium, going beyond the constraints of a two-dimensional framed print on the wall. Photographic art takes the form of a television screen, a mobile hanging from the ceiling, a five foot sphere placed in the middle of the room, a reflective silver bowl, a group of throw pillows, and a sound installation that interacts with light and movement around it.
Mine Eyes Bees Deceive, at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, presents a large scale survey of Polish photography over several rooms, bringing together both established and emerging artists. The curators, Kamila Bondar and Łukasz Rusznica, have selected work that emphasizes personal or emotional interpretations of reality, downplaying the documentary role of photography. “We are not neutral in our choices, we are as vulnerable and susceptible to the effects of the image as any other person,” they acknowledge. Additionally, artists included in the exhibit experiment with format, incorporating sculptural elements or installation with photographic imagery. A chill out area allows viewers to browse through a range of photography books.
Meanwhile, Beyond the Script: Workshop of the Film Form, on display at Zachęta National Gallery of Art, highlights the work of a cohort of former students of the Łódź Film School. The group, which became active in the 1970s, challenged the conventional limits of film and photography, experimenting with structure and form. The exhibit includes films, photographs, performance recordings, installations, interactive objects, and even poetry. For example, Józef Robakowski’s ‘Kaleidoscope’ series includes portraits mounted on small three dimensional objects, which are reflected back in distorted form by surrounding mirrored surfaces.
Also at Zacheta currently is a retrospective of performance artist Andrea Fraser, titled Art Must Hang. Of course, the title is tongue-in-cheek as Fraser’s performances and critiques of the art world are not meant to hang on the wall.
Along with the new Museum of Modern Art, Zacheta and the Ujazdowski Centre are among the leading spaces for contemporary art in Warsaw. Ujazdowski was reinvigorated last year after a controversial five years under a director aligned with the previous right-wing government.