październik 1978

 Labirynth Gallery, Lublin

Manifestation description:

The interior of the Labyrinth Gallery (the gallery space is limited by a performer from Germany; see artist’s commentary). On the floor lies a strip of jute about 1.5 meters long and 50-60 cm wide. On it, the inscription PHILOSOPHICAL STONE is visible. A concrete paving stone is hidden under it. In the middle of the length of the jute there is a small transverse slit into which a small granite paving stone is inserted. Action. The artist enters the room wearing only a copy of the weekly “Culture” hanging below his neck on a string. It covers the front part of his body. In his hands he holds an axe and a block of dry wood. He walks over to the jute sidewalk and kneels at its end. He splits the block into small chips, rips off the newspaper and puts the jute with the inscription PHILOSOPHICAL STONE on his body in such a way that the inscription is in front. He wraps the cobblestone granite in the newspaper and puts it back in the middle of the paving stone. He covers the wrapped stone with the chips of wood and lights a fire. He then freezes in a kneeling position. He contemplates the flames in silence – along with him the entire audience does it. Contemplation in complete silence continues until the fire burns out. On the sidewalk, in the ashes, a hot stone appears. The artist digs a piece of charcoal out of the ashes and puts his signature on the hot stone. He takes off the jute and places it on the pavement stone as it was lying before the action. He collects the axe and leaves. A granite stone protrudes through the slit.

Photo by Andrzej Polakowski