Breathless Performance art by AWACS Group from 1980 - 1987 Project objective: - introduction of work by AWACS Group - AWACS and its place in history of Polish performance art - emphasizing of the political aspect of the Group's activity during the Martial Law period in Poland - presentation of performance art by AWACS in context of Viennese Actionism influences - analysis of group's work as continuation of cultural tradition on the Krakow-Vienna axis Description of the project The exhibition presents documentation of the artistic work of the AWACS Group from 1980 until 1987. The presentation consists of: - photographic documentation of performances - archival materials: drawings, sketches, scripts and scores - posters, fliers prints and artifacts - AWACS offers reenactments of selected performances in course of the exhibition Brief History of AWACS Group AWACS was founded in Krakow by Peter (Piotr) Grzybowski and Maciej Toporowicz in 1980. At the time both artists were students of Academy of Fine Arts. From it's inception, the group had a program based on their own radical ideas and a distinct aesthetic. Their work was immediately recognized abroad. Leading American magazine, High Performance, published documentation of their first two actions. During the Martial Law period in Poland, AWACS Group completed several illegal performances and organized performance art events in Krakow in defiance of a total ban on public gatherings. One of the best known actions of this type took place at the 9 Cracovian Meetings Festival in Krakow. While in Poland, AWACS performed several actions in Krakow, Lodz and Poznan, and collaborated with a number of galleries, artists and photographers. In 1983, members of the group left Poland and continued to work as a group in Germany and later in the USA. They continued to work in New York City, completing performances in several galleries, including the legendary Franklin Furnace Gallery in Manhattan. Sources and inspirations of AWACS Group The visual aesthetics as well as the themes of AWACS had many sources of inspiration The artists were able to combine Western and Polish influences to create a very potent local brand of performance work. One of the most significant inspirations came from Viennese Actionism. Work from artists of the movement (Hermann Nitsch, Otto Muhl, Rudolf Schwarzkogler, Guünter Brus) helped AWACS create visual language and radicalize its program and topics. Their artistic influence had an interesting and significant role in the Group's work, as both Krakow and Vienna were once part of the Austro-Hungary multinational empire. Their common cultural roots were forged during the explosion of Secession. One can mention the influence of Gustaw Klimt and Egon Schiele on Stanislaw Wyspianski, Jozef Mehoffer and others and there are common roots in the work of Franz Kafka and Bruno Schulz. One of the most important Polish composers, Krzysztof Penderecki, was influenced by Anton Webern. In this light, AWACS Group's activity is a continuation of historical tradition and it would be advisable to present the same exhibition in Krakow as well as in Vienna. Project coordination: Peter Grzybowski: peter@grzybowski.org Maciej Toporowicz: noqontrol@gmail.com Foundation for the Promotion of Performance Art "Kesher" in Krakow: http://kesher.pginterarts.com Awacs, performance, Club Pod Reka Krakow 1981 Status, performance, Club Pod Jaszczurami Krakow 1983 First Trial, performance, Krakow 1982 Cumulation, performance, Krakow 1982 Tapes, performance, Krakow 1981 Short Cirquit, performance, Galeria AT, Poznań 1983 Leverkuhn Superstar, performance, Mannheim, 1983 Made in Germany, performance Mannheim 1983
Breathless Performance art by AWACS Group from 1980 - 1987 Project objective: - introduction of work by AWACS Group - AWACS and its place in history of Polish performance art - emphasizing of the political aspect of the Group's activity during the Martial Law period in Poland - presentation of performance art by AWACS in context of Viennese Actionism influences - analysis of group's work as continuation of cultural tradition on the Krakow-Vienna axis Description of the project The exhibition presents documentation of the artistic work of the AWACS Group from 1980 until 1987. The presentation consists of: - photographic documentation of performances - archival materials: drawings, sketches, scripts and scores - posters, fliers prints and artifacts - AWACS offers reenactments of selected performances in course of the exhibition Brief History of AWACS Group AWACS was founded in Krakow by Peter (Piotr) Grzybowski and Maciej Toporowicz in 1980. At the time both artists were students of Academy of Fine Arts. From it's inception, the group had a program based on their own radical ideas and a distinct aesthetic. Their work was immediately recognized abroad. Leading American magazine, High Performance, published documentation of their first two actions. During the Martial Law period in Poland, AWACS Group completed several illegal performances and organized performance art events in Krakow in defiance of a total ban on public gatherings. One of the best known actions of this type took place at the 9 Cracovian Meetings Festival in Krakow. While in Poland, AWACS performed several actions in Krakow, Lodz and Poznan, and collaborated with a number of galleries, artists and photographers. In 1983, members of the group left Poland and continued to work as a group in Germany and later in the USA. They continued to work in New York City, completing performances in several galleries, including the legendary Franklin Furnace Gallery in Manhattan. Sources and inspirations of AWACS Group The visual aesthetics as well as the themes of AWACS had many sources of inspiration The artists were able to combine Western and Polish influences to create a very potent local brand of performance work. One of the most significant inspirations came from Viennese Actionism. Work from artists of the movement (Hermann Nitsch, Otto Muhl, Rudolf Schwarzkogler, Guünter Brus) helped AWACS create visual language and radicalize its program and topics. Their artistic influence had an interesting and significant role in the Group's work, as both Krakow and Vienna were once part of the Austro-Hungary multinational empire. Their common cultural roots were forged during the explosion of Secession. One can mention the influence of Gustaw Klimt and Egon Schiele on Stanislaw Wyspianski, Jozef Mehoffer and others and there are common roots in the work of Franz Kafka and Bruno Schulz. One of the most important Polish composers, Krzysztof Penderecki, was influenced by Anton Webern. In this light, AWACS Group's activity is a continuation of historical tradition and it would be advisable to present the same exhibition in Krakow as well as in Vienna. Project coordination: Peter Grzybowski: peter@grzybowski.org Maciej Toporowicz: noqontrol@gmail.com Foundation for the Promotion of Performance Art "Kesher" in Krakow: http://kesher.pginterarts.com Awacs, performance, Club Pod Reka Krakow 1981 Status, performance, Club Pod Jaszczurami Krakow 1983 First Trial, performance, Krakow 1982 Cumulation, performance, Krakow 1982 Tapes, performance, Krakow 1981 Short Cirquit, performance, Galeria AT, Poznań 1983 Leverkuhn Superstar, performance, Mannheim, 1983 Made in Germany, performance Mannheim 1983