The Rag-Ball
Opening of the WARSAW UNDER CONSTRUCTION Festival
photo Tadeusz Rolke, Bal gałganiarzy warszawskiej ASP, 1957
The Rag-Ball carries on the tradition of popular costume balls the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts was famous for in the pre-war decades and in the 1950s. The ball also refers to the “Beggars” ball of the early 1990s, which hosted politicians and artists.
The Ball includes a charity auction organized by the Society of Friends of the Museum of Modern Art, during which costumes from the Body Banquet – the ball modelled on Louise Bourgeois' “The Body Banquet” performance – will be available for sale.
Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Warsaw and the Academy of Fine Arts join forces to boisterously kick off the opening of the Academy’s building in Powiśle district – a unique event in the city’s art life. The inauguration of the Academy’s new premises coincides with the beginning of the new edition of the WARSAW UNDER CONSTRUCTION festival – this time under the slogan “The City of Artists” – devoted to Warsaw art life.
The Ragmen’s Ball is a follow-up to the tradition of popular costume parties the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts was famous for in the period between the wars and in the 1950s. Additionally, it is a reminder of a “Beggars” costume party from the early 1990s, which hosted politicians and artists.
The ball’s scenery and numerous multimedia screenings will certainly bring back memories of historical balls and ragmen, though the party will focus mainly on contemporary ragmen – regular guests at Warsaw opening nights, whose colourful clothing, strong make-up and inclination towards free wine make up an inseparable element of the city’s artistic landscape. As honourable guests, they have been sent personal invitations to this year’s Ragmen’s Ball.
The party space will also include sculpture stands occupied by naked models who regularly pose to Academy students, while the party guests wishing to join the pageant of ragmen will have a chance to equip themselves with costumes at a special second hand stall, where Anna Imiela – the stylist – helps the hesitant ones select appropriate garments.
Two stages are at the ball’s guests disposal: the main stage hosting a big band and guest bands on the ground floor and an underground dance floor with music provided by DJs.
The whole party will take place under a vigilant eye of Paweł Althamer’s “Guma” (“the Rubber Man”) as well as ragmen from the past immortalized on Tadeusz Rolke’s photos.