Boys

The gender issue has won great popularity in Poland. Initially, it referred only to the female question but soon cultural conditioning of manhood received recognition as well. The conventions of being a man are currently undergoing a far-reaching transformation fostered by rapid changes presently happening in Poland. The transformation manifests itself in gradual disappearance of the "macho" type, in men requiring the right to weakness and paying attention to their appearance (this type has been called a "metrosexual man"). Another consequence, however, is the brutalizing of norms of behaviour.

The exhibition "Boys" aims at presenting this duality. Some of the works to be exhibited already exist, others have been commissioned.

The project will be devoted to the traditional understanding of manhood, including the issues of being Polish and being a father. Polish manners are still conservative, however, the idea of men being the strong sex becomes increasingly oppressive, and the satisfaction that men get from playing traditional roles decreases. We wish to analyze the process of the loss of credibility of the traditional idea of manhood and, consequently, the exhibition will be dedicated to Polish art in general since it was only in the 1990s that art gained freedom from the dominating father figure, i.e. from great masters imposing their system of values on other artists.

The exhibition also will introduce a "metrosexual man", i.e. a man who would traditionally be considered effeminate, gentle and able to express emotions. This type of masculinity is in opposition to the traditional model and is on increase in Poland, especially in young generation living in big cities. Popular culture also promotes that image.

Our project will be the first ever exhibition of Polish art examining the question of masculinity.

Pressetext

Boys
Kuratoren: Magdalena Ujma, Joanna Zielinska (group exgirls)

mit Azorro  (Oskar Dawicki, Igor Krenz, Wojciech Niedzielko, Lukasz Skapski ), Anna Baumgart, Kuba Bakowski, Rafal Bujnowski, Tomek Kozak, Katarzyna Kozyra, Pawel Kruk, Artur Malewski, Dorota Nieznalska, Hanna Nowicka, Daniel Rumiancew, Janek Simon, Grzegorz Sztwiertnia