The Demeaned Avant-Garde and the Art of Cognition

Abstrakt

In 1979, at the exhibition L’avanguardia polacca 1910-1978. S.I. Witkiewicz, costruttivismo. artisti contemporanei [Polish Avant-Garde 1910-1978. S.I. Witkiewicz, Constructivists, Contemporary Artists] staged at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome, Tadeusz
Kantor’s works were displayed alongside pieces by Stanisław Witkiewicz (also known
as Witkacy), constructivists, and young Polish avant-garde. On being juxtaposed with
the latter, the artist decided on an addition to his part of the show with the aim of “completing” it (L’avanguardia, 1979) - the adjoining rooms were to host an exposition of
artworks by Cricot 2 Theatre actors (Le opere, 1979: 94-95). Upset about the limited
space in the Palazzo put at his disposal by curator Ryszard Stanisławski (The transcription, 2013: 1), he still managed to provide a selection of avant-garde works that were
bold, numerous and manifold, while demonstrating a distinctive style that tended to be
odd, pitiful and astounding. A visit to the sections arranged by Kantor encouraged reflection on the role he himself, as well as the circles gathered around the Krakow Group
and the Foksal Gallery in Warsaw occupied in the Polish world of art.