7 II 1981

Krzysztofory Gallery in Kraków

Manifestation held during the opening of the exhibition “Documents of manifestations from 1968-1980”

Description of the manifestation:

Gallery interior. In the center of the main room stands a large tree trunk mounted on short legs. A white inscription reading WARSZTAT (WORKSHOP) is painted on the trunk. On the trunk lies a block of wood with the white inscription MATERIAŁ (MATERIAL).
Action: The artist enters wearing a short gray linen tunic. On the front of the tunic is the white inscription CZYSTE DZIEŁO (PURE WORK). He stands in front of the workshop, chops the material into small pieces, and arranges them into a pile. He then removes the tunic and places it on the floor in front of the trunk, leaving the inscription on the rectangular piece of gray linen visible. Naked, he returns to the workshop and sets the pile alight. Standing in the light of the increasingly intense fire, he takes a brush and slowly writes the word AKT (NUDE) on his body with black paint. He then guides the gathered audience through the exhibition, commenting on his works, which are documents of earlier manifestations. Finally, he returns to his workshop, allows the inscription on his body to dry, puts the canvas with the inscription CZYSTE DZIEŁO (PURE WORK) back on, and extinguishes the fire. Using a piece of charred wood, he writes the word DOKUMENT (DOCUMENT) on a previously prepared piece of cardboard, followed by a signature and the date. The cardboard is hung over the charred tree trunk as a document of the manifestation.

Photo by Jacek Szmuc