Edward Dwurnik: Pride and Shame – A Powerful Exhibition of 1970s and 1980s Polish Art

This exhibition delves into the work of Edward Dwurnik from the 1970s and 1980s, focusing on his 'Sportowcy' (Athletes) and 'Robotnicy' (Workers) series. It explores Dwurnik's artistic stance, which rejected elitism and embraced painting as a document of social life and a tool for community building. The exhibition examines the profound impact of social advancement and class shifts in Poland, highlighting the intertwined emotions of pride and shame that characterized this transformative period.

The exhibition 'Edward Dwurnik. Pride and Shame' centers on the artist's significant output from the 1970s and 1980s, presenting two key painting series: 'Sportowcy' (Athletes) and 'Robotnicy' (Workers). The curation aims to reconstruct Dwurnik's foundational artistic approach, which emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This approach was characterized by a rejection of artistic elitism, a connection to outsider art, and a belief in painting as a vital document of social life. Dwurnik envisioned art as an egalitarian language capable of fostering communication and community among those depicted. The exhibition further positions Dwurnik's work within the context of Poland's significant social and class transformations during the latter half of the 20th century. Dwurnik, with his characteristic insight and irony, captured the identity, cultural, and psychological consequences of these societal shifts, which he himself experienced. 'Pride and Shame' thus offers an interpretation of his oeuvre through the lens of social emotional history in Poland, particularly the persistent interplay of pride and shame that shaped the experience of class transitions. These emotions extend beyond personal feelings, governing belonging, recognition, and one's place in the social hierarchy, fundamentally influencing self-worth and identity. The exhibition is accompanied by an artistic intervention by Patryk Różycki titled 'Transformacja,' featuring his works from 2021–2024 that reflect on childhood and adolescence amidst economic and social exclusion during the 1990s transformation.

Ticketing information is available and visitors are directed to purchase tickets online for this exhibition. Specific admission details are linked via a 'Kup bilet' (Buy ticket) button.