ADAM RZEPECKI, MY ABSENCE FROM ART, 1983. (1-7/7)
The absence of Adam Rzepecki in art for more than one hour happened on 1 July 1983 in the gallery Strych in Łódź.
Courtesy of Archive Exchange Gallery.
„The first action performed by Rzepecki at the gallery Strych was his one hour absence, which was this time announced publicly by the artist. During the action „My absence in art” only a banner remained, hanged by him under the ceiling in the roof space saying „I am still travelling unpunished through the space of art. Rzepecki”.
In a comment to this event, published later, the author pointed out that his gesture „burdened him to be introduced into art space”. In conclusion he stated: It is so difficult to be absent in art!!
Although he did not want to be perceived as an artist, he remained one. Even in the space designed for non-art, such as Strych. Aspiration to free creative unit from limitation established by a certain cultural structure, which is art, has ended with loss. The author was aware of it. Creating an unsuccessful piece, Rzepecki has revealed a paradox of intentional non-existence in art. Due to aspiration to non-existence, existence becomes more visible. The Cracovian member of Łódź Kaliska city has demonstrated insolubility of the situation, in which avoiding the art becomes even more art. Especially in the times of martial law, when all creative actions were limited by authorities from the beginning, and then there was a certain self-limitation of artists by a boycott. In these conditions non-acting undertook a character of some kind of artistic and political manifestation. Rzepecki has noticed that a Dada gesture within the context of events of those days was extremely easily assimilated by artistic environment and society. In this regard, he has noticed a paradox of the situation, in which there is a danger of becoming such an artist expected by society in those times, also in alternative space at Strych”.
[Dominik Kuryłek. Really I am not a nihilist. Selected aspects of Adam Rzepecki’s creativity in 1979–1989. in: Adam Rzepecki. I rather prefer dump than culture. Nowy Sącz 2013]
