The film Them by Polish artist Artur Žmijewski documented a social experiment devised by Žmijewski in which representatives from conflicting social groups were brought together through a series of workshops. Each group is asked to construct a symbolic centre and then to comment and react to others. This forces participants to interact: to negotiate, to fight, or to withdraw.

In Them, Artur refers to experiences from his time as a student of Professor Grzegorz Kowalski’s famous Kowalnia studio where he participated in an exercise called Common Space, Private Space. The exercise taught dialogue and collective task solving using the language of visual symbols. Artur transformed this formula into an instrument where visual language illuminates social diversity and reveals pathological tendencies.

Events

Scottish/Polish Cultural Stimulation, 14 February – 20 March 2008
Every Thursday throughout the exhibition, Collective hosted collaborations between Polish and Scottish poets, writers, visual artists and musicians. The artists considered ideas surrounding emigration, identity and public/private space. This event was produced as part of One Mile.

Animation Cinema, 9 February – 22 March 2008
For the duration of the exhibition there was be screenings every Tuesday evening between 5—6pm of Polish animations, specially compiled by the Krakow Film Foundation. These films continued to be shown in the gallery reception for the following week.

Download the exhibition information here

Read about Them in The List and The Skinny