Exhibition “Travelling Images. Małgorzata Mirga-Tas”

Duration: 2 December 2022 – 19 March 2023

“Travelling Images” is the first solo exhibition of Małgorzata Mirga-Tas – currently the major representative of contemporary Roma art – after the great success at 59. Biennial of Art in Venice. At the ICC we show a large selection of the artist’s works from years 2017–2022, including the series “Out of Egypt” and the series of large-format tapestries titled “Herstories”. We also present new works addressing, among others, the history of the Roma community in Nowa Huta and the Roma memory.

Małgorzata Mirga-Tas draws on the art of the past, especially Renaissance painting, as well as on everyday life. On the one hand she appropriates significant elements of European heritage and early modern art. On the other, she researches and incorporates photographs from her family archives.

The first part of the exhibition, titled “Atlas” is composed of the works by different artists – more and less known – that come from a variety of collections, and were produced in various techniques. They illustrate the stereotypical view of Roma people. In the following rooms we will see the pieces by Małgorzata Mirga-Tas. They disenchant established images and take a form of personal and collective self-presentation. This part of the exhibition is divided into five groups: “O Fotografis” (A photographer), “Newo Rom – newo drom” (New human/new Roma man – new way), “Siukar Manusia” (Good/wonderful people), “Giantesses”, and “Out of Egypt”. The artist addresses the issues of complex Romani and Polish identity, decolonisation of the Roma material cultural heritage, and the Holocaust of Roma and Sinti.

Małgorzata Mirga-Tas is inspired by Roma women, who are often cast as protagonists of her works. They are family members, closest collaborators, fellow artists and activists – significant figures for the Roma community. This specific minority feminism practiced by the artist seeks to deconstruct the stereotypical image of Roma women, perpetuated over the centuries in visual culture.

The artist produces monumental pieces and screens works with textiles and clothing. She often uses materials and personal belongings that were given to her by relatives and friends. Hypnotising, vibrant with colours, textures, and details, her collages and installations tell stories that demand our emotional investment.

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue published in Polish and English, featuring essays by the curators Natalia Żak and Wojciech Szymański, as well as essays by Anna Mirga-Kruszelnicka, Anna Markowska, Weronika Kobylińska, Monika Weychert, and Aleksandra Szczepan.

The partner of the exhibition is the Scientific Library of the PAAS and the PAS in Kraków.

ICC programme policy

Agata Wąsowska-Pawlik, Łukasz Galusek

Curators

Wojciech Szymański, Natalia Żak

Exhibition design

Magdalena Paleczna

Exhibition coordinator

Dorota Kosiec

Collaboration in the production of artworks/The artist's studio

Halina Bednarz, Małgorzata Brońska, Stanisława Mirga

Support by the Scientific Library of the PAAS and the PAS in Kraków

Teresa Bobek

Polish editing and proofreading

Paulina Roszak-Niemirska, Piotr Niemirski

English editing and proofreading

Aleksandra Kamińska, Nicholas Hodge, Adam Ladziński

Visual identity and album design

Kuba Sowiński

Assembling nd lightning

Emanuel Mróz, Michał Pietras, Jakub Wójtowicz

Cooperation

Joanna Biegacz, Jan Burnatowski, Ewa Czarnecka, Marzena Daszewska, Katarzyna Domagała, Dawid Górny, Magdalena Grabias, Joanna Hojda-Pepaś, Agata Klejzerowicz, Dorota Korohoda, Daniel Krawczyk, Paulina Małochleb, Martyna Masztalerz, Antoni Michalik, Regina Mynarska, Łukasz Pieróg, Angelika Radoń, Agnieszka Sachar, Anna Sawłowicz, Klaudia Słupek, Michał Sz., Karolina Wójcik

Special thanks

Marzena Fraś, Edyta Jaśkowiak, Andrzej Mirga, Anna Mirga-Kruszelnicka, Adam Pietkiewicz, Krzysztof Skonieczny, Monika Szewczyk, Marcin Tas, Łukasz Trzciński

Organiser

With the financial support of

Project co-financed by the City of Krakow

Exhibition partner

Sponsor

Exhibition media patrons

Long-term media patrons