25.11.2011
Katarzyna Kozyra’s exhibition at the National Museum in Krakow
After almost two decades since her debut, Katarzyna Kozyra - one of the most interesting and most famous of Polish artists in recent years - will have a solo exhibition at the Main Building of the National Museum in Krakow. This will include such works as Łaźnia i Łaźnia męska, Więzy krwi, Święto Wiosny, Casting and some of the films from the series entitled W sztuce marzenia stają się rzeczywistością. The exhibition will run until the 15th of January 2012.
Katarzyna Kozyra's works are marked by her critical approach to the environment. Her works are bare, dry and raw; they reveal spaces inaccessible in daily life. We will see many instances of male and female nudity that will disturb our everyday perception. While advertisements show the human body that, in a way, arouses desire, Kozyra shows deteriorated, unattractive or sick bodies - something certain to arouse controversy.
Some of the most popular works by the Polish artist include Łaźnia i Łaźnia męska, presenting naked male bodies, and her Więzy krwi photographic series, showing naked women (including one handicapped) against a white-red background that resembles a Red Cross. Piramida zwierząt is by no means any less controversial. The artist argues in the work that animals suffer just as much as man does, though they are often unaware of imminent death.
Koyzra has come to symbolise critical art and modernity and has become a synonym for scandal and misunderstandings. Piramida zwierząt introduced contemporary art into the main spheres of public debate, as media manipulations triggered a nationwide debate around young artist's graduation work supervised by Grzegorz Kowalski (participants of the debate including critics and representatives of various communities). From the very beginning the audience was, either directly (as spectators) or indirectly (through media), engaged in an area of activity and, at the same time, life of the artist. For Kozyra, these spheres are inextricably linked.
Katarzyna Kozyra was born in 1963 and lives in Berlin and Warsaw. She is a sculptor and creator of video installations, films and performances. She studied at the Faculty of Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Her works touch upon the most vital problems of human existence: identity, transience and death. Kozyra explores cultural taboos connected with human's bodily spheres and stereotypes and the behaviours implanted in social life. Each of her works breaks those taboos, stereotypes and behaviours, exposing them to audiences' criticism. Her video installation Łaźnia męska was awarded at the 48th International Art Exhibition in Venice (1999).
Katarzyna Kozyra's works are marked by her critical approach to the environment. Her works are bare, dry and raw; they reveal spaces inaccessible in daily life. We will see many instances of male and female nudity that will disturb our everyday perception. While advertisements show the human body that, in a way, arouses desire, Kozyra shows deteriorated, unattractive or sick bodies - something certain to arouse controversy.
Some of the most popular works by the Polish artist include Łaźnia i Łaźnia męska, presenting naked male bodies, and her Więzy krwi photographic series, showing naked women (including one handicapped) against a white-red background that resembles a Red Cross. Piramida zwierząt is by no means any less controversial. The artist argues in the work that animals suffer just as much as man does, though they are often unaware of imminent death.
Koyzra has come to symbolise critical art and modernity and has become a synonym for scandal and misunderstandings. Piramida zwierząt introduced contemporary art into the main spheres of public debate, as media manipulations triggered a nationwide debate around young artist's graduation work supervised by Grzegorz Kowalski (participants of the debate including critics and representatives of various communities). From the very beginning the audience was, either directly (as spectators) or indirectly (through media), engaged in an area of activity and, at the same time, life of the artist. For Kozyra, these spheres are inextricably linked.
Katarzyna Kozyra was born in 1963 and lives in Berlin and Warsaw. She is a sculptor and creator of video installations, films and performances. She studied at the Faculty of Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Her works touch upon the most vital problems of human existence: identity, transience and death. Kozyra explores cultural taboos connected with human's bodily spheres and stereotypes and the behaviours implanted in social life. Each of her works breaks those taboos, stereotypes and behaviours, exposing them to audiences' criticism. Her video installation Łaźnia męska was awarded at the 48th International Art Exhibition in Venice (1999).
