"Silesia activ” has properties of an energetic drink of a similar name. It refreshes and regenerates, it revives from numbness. "Silesia activ” project is a result of the need to revaluate, break two stereotypic predominant paintings of Silesian art: from one side mythologizing and magical, from the other side - academical ( the local cult of graphic arts and poster or the traditional painting). Both these paintings, often penetrating themselves, create invariable hierarchy, profitable for the maintenance of the local artistic infrastructure.
"Silesia activ” opposes such a general conception of art. It presents a non-linear and fragmentary painting which is not closely related to any institutions. It is therefore not ideologized.
"Silesia activ" is meant to be a yearly meeting of artists. We as curators let ourselves, consciously with impudence and audaciously to invite the most interesting Silesian artists. After three editions, the project is to result in a summary publication. The publication is to deliver sources, construct third alternative panorama of Silesian art.
The criterion ( it is not generational) is the feature of "activ”, it is openness to searching, getting out of a rut, according to the sentence: "if you will fear to get lost then you will not find yourself”. Openness to new, different medias, but yet to hundred different things...
"Silesia activ” is an oxymoron. Both words blatantly do not match each other. "Silesia activ” contrasts acceptable trickery as well as ideas of movement and changes with the traditional mood of Silesian art, glorified by a name of "taking radical artistic attitudes”.
It prefers "work in progress" over preferences of "hand-made object” and "cult of work”. Thus the presence of conceptions or works in progress at the meetings. "Silesia activ” meetings are a temporary reconstruction of the gallery in the laboratory...
"Silesia activ” does not like claustrophobia and agoraphobia.
"Silesia activ” likes space and it does not fear the placement in a general view of Polish art. Here Silesia is only a place - a point of attachment. Many artists function beyond region, in wide circulation. In this way "Silesia activ” emphasises its artistic potential. It disagrees conceptions like "cultural desert”.
Stanisław Ruksza
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