TOMASZ SIKORSKI – RESISTANCE, 1981 (1-4/4)
Radical performance of Tomasz Sikorski at the London Video Arts & Air Gallery dealt with the artist’s solving of a dilemma, which is the necessity of overcoming resistance of body and mind. Sikorski stood at the wall in front of the audience in the space of 10 x 10 meters. Equipped with large amount of cans with light alcoholic beverages, he drank them one after another.
Being already under the effect of alcohol, he started to name in English various objects, which he notices: a chair, a lamp, floor etc. At the moment of silence, standing before the audience, without a word, he started to urinate without taking his pants off. When a dark spot appeared on Sikorski’s pants, starting to flow down, there was the end of the action, and the audience relaxed in regard to natural solution of the situation. Graphics previously drawn by the artist were hanging on the wall, which anticipated further stages of the event. The performance was an answer to the question: how to overcome this strange resistance? Tomasz Sikorski fought with the impossibility of public urination, facing the necessity of overcoming cultural and traditional norms.
"RESISTANCE
Why do I like this and dislike that?
Why do I do what I like to do?
Why don't I do what I don't like to do?
I don;t know, yet it is so.
Something beyond me decides for me.
Why I should I do what I like to do?
Why shouldn't I do what I don't like to do?
And this, the way to liberate myself (from my self) seems to be:
TO DO SOMETHING AGAINST MY SELF.
TO OVERCOME THE STRANGE RESISTANCE."
Tomasz Sikorski, 1981.
