MICHAL IWANOWSKI
GO HOME POLISH
16 October – 26 November 2022
The exhibition
MICHAL IWANOWSKI
GO HOME POLISH
16 October – 26 November 2022
“In 2008, I came across a small graffiti in my neighbourhood in Cardiff, and it spelt ‘Go home Polish’. In 2016, with the Brexit referendum breaking Britain in half, and the rising wave of nationalism sweeping across Europe, the slogan took on an even darker tone, and I felt compelled to respond to it. Literally”.
Michal Iwanowski
In April 2018, Michal Iwanowski embarks on a hike: 1 900 km on foot from his hometown in Wales to the one in Poland; a British passport in one hand and a Polish one in the other.
He draws a straight line on the map, organises a pair of good hiking boots and leaves his flat in Cardiff, facing eastwards: Wales. England. France. Belgium. Holland. Germany. Czech Republic. Poland.
Along the way he quizzes people about their home – on a journey that will eventually take 105 days. The further he ventures, the less significant he considers the command “Go home, Polish” that inspired him to start walking.
Yet Michal Iwanowski decides to keep it as the title, to highlight how language can dehumanise, that stereotypes are not an option and that it’s imperative to take the perspective of the individual when looking at global issues.
And where is home?
The answer remains open.
Exhibition opening
Saturday, 15 October 2022 at 5 pm | 6:30 pm
bildkultur | galerie, Markelstr. 19, 70193 Stuttgart
We kindly ask you to make a binding registration by October 10th for one of the indicated times under 0170-3106158 or info(at)bildkultur.de.
Introduction
Dr. Matthias Bullinger, bildkultur Stuttgart
Michal Iwanowski, Cardiff
The exhibition is on view
from Sunday 16 October – Saturday 26 November 2022
Gallery hours
On appointment:
info(at)bildkultur.de
+49 170-3106158