Der Wandel wird kommen

In the organizer's words:

Criticism and commitment in Polish art

Art is always a mirror of the times, a reflection of the present, a response to social issues. This is illustrated by the exhibition "Change will come". It presents artists who live and work in Poland and addresses their need for social, political and artistic change.

Criticism and "engagement" have been a defining phenomenon in Polish art in recent decades. In view of the dynamic global upheavals, however, the exhibition is not limited to Poland, but poses central questions about the relationship between art and society. It focuses on the role of the artist as a witness to contemporary challenges and as an active shaper of change.

Historical artistic positions are brought into dialog with current ones. The historical section presents key figures in Polish art of the 20th century, their strategies and artistic practices, starting with the doctrine of socialist realism in the 1940s and 1950s, through the so-called "small stabilization" of the 1960s and 1970s, to the 1980s with the beginning of martial law. After the country regained its independence in the 1990s, "critical art" emerged.

The historical works are juxtaposed with contemporary works created by artists of the middle and young generation who react to current crises and tensions. These positions are characterized by the concept of "engagement", which seems to permeate all areas of life. Artists from Ukraine and Belarus are now an integral part of the Polish art scene.