14 III 1997

Galeria Mahattan, Łódź

Description of the manifestation:

Two tables stand in the room. On one lies a cut flower; on the other, a piece of board with two holes at each end, a bottle of vodka, and vodka glasses. Between the tables stands a podium.

The artist enters. He is naked. A rope is tied around his neck, the rest of which he holds in his hands. His penis is painted white and red. He removes the rope and places it on the table next to the flower. He encourages the audience to engage in a dialogue about the challenges posed to humanity by the utopias we pursue. He goes to the second table, opens a bottle, and fills several glasses. He paints the letter D on his torso. He recalls the Stalinist era, when almost every Pole had to duel with that criminal doctrine. He fills more glasses, and the letters R and Ż appear on his body. Continuing his argument, he recalls situations during martial law, when we had to duel with utopian violence. All the glasses are now filled, and on the artist’s body the letters form the word DRŻENIE (TREMOR). He places the glasses on the prepared board and, as if carrying a tray, approaches those present, offering everyone vodka. He then returns to the tables and uses the rope to suspend the board from his back. He places the flower in the empty bottle and steps onto the podium. He slowly turns, allowing the audience to read the word DRŻENIE (TREMOR) on his torso, and on the back of the board the word PODMIOT (SUBJECT), which had been written on it before the manifestation. As he turns, he attempts to balance the bottle with the flower on his outstretched hand, but the natural tremor of his hand causes the bottle to fall and shatter. After the manifestation, a lengthy discussion ensues.

Photo by Andrzej Grzelak