Artists from Krakow: The Generation 1980–1990
MOCAK is embarking on a series of exhibitions showing the oeuvres of artists who live and work in Krakow. These presentations will encompass a variety of media. The series is inaugurated with a show of artists born between 1980 and 1990. In our next presentations, we shall be showing the previous generations of Krakow artists. For 2017, we are planning a presentation of artists born in the 1970s.
After the initial selection of the works to be shown, it transpired thatpainting would be the dominant genre. Besides painting, however, sculpture, video, photography, drawing and installation will all make a prominent appearance. The exhibition aims to demonstrate the leading trends on the Krakow contemporary art scene. This is also an attempt to take on board the artistic legend of the city, since the mid-19th century dominated by artistic giants. In the world of art, Krakow has been famous as the site of many ‘firsts’. It was in Krakow that the first Polish Academy of Fine Arts opened, the first national museum was funded and the first Institute of History of Art in Poland saw the light of day. The city has always been synonymous with quality painting and the selection of works presented by MOCAK for the present exhibition bears out this perception.
The artists born in the 1980s decade entered the art world unencumbered by the baggage of the previous political regime; instead, they had more awareness of the capitalist world and market mechanisms. Their works don’t show social and political involvement, so prominent in the works of artists of the 1960s generation. These young artists seem to be more interested in metaphysical andpsychological exploration, based on creating ‘camouflaged’ representations of character and on creating original painterly techniques.
The publication that will accompany the exhibition, planned for the end of the year in Polish and English, will draw a broader picture of the artistic landscape in Krakow, which encompasses art festivals, the activities of art galleries and exhibition initiatives.
This event happens in MOCAK