Konger
Encyclopedia
Konger is a Polish performance art
group from Kraków
, Poland
, established in 1983 by a group of professional artists in protest against the imposition of Martial law in Poland
. The artists boycotted all state galleries and took up performance art
instead, an obsolete medium in the eyes of the official art critics.
The Group was founded by Wladyslaw Kazmierczak
, Artur Tajber, Marian Figiel and Marcin Krzyżanowski. Others included Kazimierz Madej and Peter Grzybowski
. The activity was documented by Barbara Maroń.
The artists performed individual art actions at a time when Polish performance art
was experiencing political repressions. The performance in Zakład nad Fosą was transmitted live through video equipment and monitors outside the gallery.
The performances of Konger Group triggered strong criticism from the Polish authorities and resulted in a ban on performing in public for Artur Tajber, issued by the local committee of the Polish United Workers' Party
.
The artists stopped performing as a group in 1990 but remain active individually.
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
group from Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, established in 1983 by a group of professional artists in protest against the imposition of Martial law in Poland
Martial law in Poland
Martial law in Poland refers to the period of time from December 13, 1981 to July 22, 1983, when the authoritarian government of the People's Republic of Poland drastically restricted normal life by introducing martial law in an attempt to crush political opposition to it. Thousands of opposition...
. The artists boycotted all state galleries and took up performance art
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
instead, an obsolete medium in the eyes of the official art critics.
The Group was founded by Wladyslaw Kazmierczak
Wladyslaw Kazmierczak
Wladyslaw Kazmierczak is a Polish performance artist and curator, born in Psary, in Greater Poland Voivodeship. He studied at the Faculty of Painting of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków under Jonasz Stern....
, Artur Tajber, Marian Figiel and Marcin Krzyżanowski. Others included Kazimierz Madej and Peter Grzybowski
Peter Grzybowski
Peter Grzybowski is a multimedia and performance artist and a painter. Studied at the Faculty of Painting of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków . Graduated 1982. First performances completed 1981, individual and with Awacs Group and KONGER...
. The activity was documented by Barbara Maroń.
The artists performed individual art actions at a time when Polish performance art
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
was experiencing political repressions. The performance in Zakład nad Fosą was transmitted live through video equipment and monitors outside the gallery.
The performances of Konger Group triggered strong criticism from the Polish authorities and resulted in a ban on performing in public for Artur Tajber, issued by the local committee of the Polish United Workers' Party
Polish United Workers' Party
The Polish United Workers' Party was the Communist party which governed the People's Republic of Poland from 1948 to 1989. Ideologically it was based on the theories of Marxism-Leninism.- The Party's Program and Goals :...
.
Selected performances
- 28.03.1984 Krzysztofory Gallery, Kraków (Wladyslaw KazmierczakWladyslaw KazmierczakWladyslaw Kazmierczak is a Polish performance artist and curator, born in Psary, in Greater Poland Voivodeship. He studied at the Faculty of Painting of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków under Jonasz Stern....
, Marian Figiel, Marcin Krzyżanowski, Artur Tajber. - 1984 (April) Zakład nad Fosą Gallery (Wladyslaw KazmierczakWladyslaw KazmierczakWladyslaw Kazmierczak is a Polish performance artist and curator, born in Psary, in Greater Poland Voivodeship. He studied at the Faculty of Painting of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków under Jonasz Stern....
, Marian Figiel, Kazimierz Madej, Peter GrzybowskiPeter GrzybowskiPeter Grzybowski is a multimedia and performance artist and a painter. Studied at the Faculty of Painting of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków . Graduated 1982. First performances completed 1981, individual and with Awacs Group and KONGER...
, Artur Tajber) – "The Week of Zakład nad Fosą Festival", Wrocław. - 1985 BWA Gallery in Zielona Góra, the 1st Biennale of New Art.
- 1990 BWA Gallery in Kraków (as a part of DOTYK (TOUCH) exhibition – the iconography of Polish independent art).
The artists stopped performing as a group in 1990 but remain active individually.