17 XI 1993

 BWA Gallery, Wrocław

Manifestation held during the opening of the exhibition “Living Monument – Prophecy II 1968-1988”

Description of the manifestation:

The situation is similar to that described earlier during the presentation of Prophecy II at Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw. The artist positions himself naked within the composition atop a pyre. The difference is that this happens in full view of passersby on the street. The long, narrow gallery space functions as a kind of display case, fully glazed along one side. The artist has already secured himself to the structure and waits for the audience, who is gathering inside the hall. BWA employees remove the ladder.
Action: Once the large audience has entered, the artist announces from atop the pyre that what they are witnessing refers to an event that took place on March 1, 1968, at the Krzysztofory Gallery in Kraków. It was an extremely turbulent time: cultural and moral revolutions were sweeping the world, and the slogan of free love was in vogue. He interrupts his speech and paints his penis with white and red paint. He then states that love has proved to be the most forbidden of all.
He turns his back to the audience and paints a red stripe along it. Then he turns to face them again and paints a section of a green, wavy line across his chest. He repeats these actions alternately until a large green question mark is formed. Beneath it appears the red-and-white dot previously painted on his penis. His back is covered with red stripes. The artist now states that today, when Poland is free and the Prophecy has been fulfilled, there are politicians who behave as if they have forgotten Adam Mickiewicz’s appeal: Fatherland – only he who has lost you will know you. Standing naked on the pyre, with a large question mark painted on his back, he continues by saying that there are politicians who deny Poles the right to partnership. He turns to the cameramen photographing him from below: Take photos, make tapes with this question mark – perhaps it will reach politicians in the country and abroad. He pauses for a moment, then asks for the ladder, climbs down, and leaves the hall. Outside, in front of the glass façade, more and more people have gathered, observing only the visual aspect of the event.