Jerzy Bereś
Creative Act I (1968)
(The manifesto was propably written in late 1967. It was constantly read aloud during the Jerzy Bere’ actions Prophecy I (Warsaw, Foksal Gallery, January 6, 1968) as well as Prophecy II (Krak6w, Krzysztofory Gallery, March 1, 1968); [ printed in:] Towards the Present. European Performance Art Festival, Ośrodek Sztuki Peroformace Centrum Kultury, Lublin 2004)
liberation
independent work – an action
a permanent trace
these are the elements of a creative fact
each form of assuming an attitude towards the existing reality
is its constituent
an apotheosis – a rebellion – others
an authentic creative fact belongs to a new future
reality
an independent action
of a clearly defined character can guarantee the initiation of a conscious creative fact
in fine arts the conception of an artwork as an ideal product
depreciated
the divinity of an act of creation –
a creator became a slave
production is justified practically
a cult for a product
sometimes dressed in high contents
a monument – a space ship – a religious image is idolatry
a way of honoring
true creative facts
in art and science
is an evidence of the society’s culture
a sum of facts is a creator’s value professional qualifications
as well as a market position
is usurping
true creativity can be accepted actively by discovering
a consumer attitude – passive
belongs to the sphere of production
Jerzy Bereś, January 1968
Translated by M. Sady