The project, curated by Piotr Bernatowicz and Dariusz Karłowicz, and featuring artist Ignacy Czwartos, was chosen by a jury of prominent arts professionals from among 24 submissions, the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage said on Thursday.
The effort aims to present the universal themes extracted from the Polish historical experience, providing a deeper understanding for international audiences of Poland’s complex historical narrative through the prism of art, according to officials.
The Venice Biennale, curated by Adriano Pedrosa, the artistic director of Brazil's São Paulo Museum of Art, will run from April 20 to November 24, 2024.
The event's main theme is "The Disquieted Muses."
The Polish project reflects on the tragic history of the 20th century. Czwartos' art is influenced by Poland's experiences, exploring tragedies marked by inescapable contradictions, conflicts, and complex dilemmas, according to the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
The statement "the Greeks invented tragedy; the Poles have rehearsed it" draws parallels between the Greek origin of tragedy and Polish history, particularly Poland's geographic and political position between Germany and Russia – giving rise to experience what the eminent historians François Furet and Ernst Nolte described as "hostile proximity" to both Nazi and Soviet totalitarianism, the government said.
A backup project, entitled "Repeat After Me" and proposed by Marta Czyż, Yuriy Biley, Pavlo Kovach and Anton Varga, has been selected as a reserve entry.
(rt/gs)
Source: dzieje.pl, labiennale.art.pl