Grupa A2 – Outlines of Presence

Abstraction is not neutral, it is an outline of presence, a radical yet discreet manifesto of being. An exhibition of works by artists using the language of geometry.

The exhibition “Outlines of Presence” presents the works of 11 artists comprising Grupa A2 – an artistic ensemble formed during the meetings of the International Group of Artists Using the Language of Geometry which was initiated and led by art critic Bożena Kowalska in the 1980s.

The exhibition is curated by Karolina Jaklewicz.

Karolina Jaklewicz:
“Works of art are things,” writes Byung-Chul Han in his book Non-things: Upheaval in the Lifeworld, “and there is nothing to it that could detract from art’s originality, because we speak of things that are a ‘refuge’ for life, things that 'concentrate the relations of meaning in which human existence is embedded.” For the philosopher, things are not mere objects, they give continuity to life, they are collective memory, they form culture. (...). 
Far from the familiar shapes of everyday life, abstract art, in this view, is not far from reality, as it reflects the shape of thought, is a ‘refuge’ of creative imagination. It gives the imaginary a dimension of concrete existence. Looking for proportions and colours, drawing lines and spilling spots, abstract artists direct their gaze to the interior of themselves, so that in the process of creation, that which is individual is given universal overtones. The language of geometry is open to dialogue. It does not impose ready-made answers, nor does it report history, but it requires attentiveness and effort to penetrate the visible and touch the essence of abstraction. This space, uninhabited by objects, is not empty. Objectlessness does not mean giving up presence. Andrzej Turowski, in ‘Radical Eye,’ citing Kazimir Malevich, writes that “objectless sensations are our only, authentic and deepest way of existence in the world.” In this view, abstraction is not neutral, it is an outline of presence, a radical, albeit discrete, manifestation of being. 
“Outlines of Presence” is the third exhibition of Grupa A2, which is made up of artists who use the language of geometry. The author of the term language of geometry was Bożena Kowalska (1930-2023), art critic, curator of exhibitions and important collections of contemporary art, and founder and mentor of the International Group of Artists Using the Language of Geometry, whom she invited to annual symposiums and plein-air events. The legendary gatherings began in 1983 and continued until 2018, with symposia providing a venue for international artistic and theoretical exchange, discussion and mutual inspiration. It was in the aura of these meetings in Radziejowice that Grupa A2 was established, bringing together artists and artists from different Polish cities.  

Grupa A2 is composed of: Tamara Berdowska, Daniel Cybulski, Karolina Hałatek, Mateusz Dąbrowski, Karolina Jaklewicz, Łukasz Leszczyński, Michał Misiak, Dariusz Mlącki, Leszek Oprządek, Tomasz Saciłowski and Olga Ząbroń.

Karolina Jaklewicz – artist, writer, curator, lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, professor at Wrocław University of Technology. Author of numerous solo exhibitions, curator of solo and group exhibitions, including ‘Diffusion’ at the Museum of Architecture in Wrocław and ‘Polish Hospitality’ at the Wrocław Contemporary Museum.

Galeria Bielska BWA, Bielsko-Biała, ul. 3 Maja 11
Grupa A2 – “Outlines of Presence” 
curated by Karolina Jaklewicz
18 June – 24 August 2025
Opening: Wednesday, 18 June 2025, at 6 pm
The opening will be followed by a guided tour with the artists (free admission).