Kraków Underground – TRUST THE ARCHITECT. Make yourself a temple

A new site-specific project by Zbigniew Libera, Piotr Lutyński, Jerzy Kosałka and Adam Rzepecki - a manifesto of the artists’ faith and hope.

Agata Smalcerz, curator of the exhibition:

The latest conceptual creation by an artistic group comprising: Jerzy Kosałka, Zbigniew Libera, Piotr Lutyski and Adam Rzepecki. With their concept of constructing a new 'temple of art', they have become part of the ideas related to the modernisation of the building of Galeria Bielska BWA, or even the creation of a larger space dedicated to contemporary art. 

The supergroup Kraków Underground has made a name for itself with projects that refer to the architecture of the places where they have worked. During their residency at Galeria Bielska BWA, the artists designed a new space in the upper hall of the gallery, referring to the history of the place, but also to the history of world art. Theirs is a concept of a hall filled with additional pillars which add to the existing supports.  (...)

The current gallery building, located on the north-south axis, lies across from a pre-existing building here - a synagogue, or rather the Jewish Prayer House, which was oriented on the east-west axis. Built between 1879 and 1881 to a design by Karl Korn, a local architect of Jewish origin, and Ludwig Schöne, active in Vienna, it was one of the most beautiful buildings in Bielsko, in a historicising neo-Moorish style, with ornaments in two-tone brick, arched windows and domes crowning the towers. It was a Reform synagogue, serving the more progressive section of the Jews of Bielsko, as opposed to the orthodox worshippers of Judaism living in Biała, who had their own synagogue. After the German army invaded in September 1939, both temples were burnt down and razed to the ground. 
(…)

Colonnades – rows of columns or even halls filled with columns - are an element attributed to temples all over the world belonging to different religions. From hypostyle courtyards in Egyptian temples, Greek and Roman porticoes, Christian churches, colonnades in Asian temples to pre-Columbian structures in Mesoamerica - everywhere, columns or pillars are a significant element, both structurally and symbolically. Going back to prehistory, where Stonehenge is an example, even then vertical elements arranged in a specific order were an essential motif of the building. “According to the early Christians, the columns, like saints, support not only the building, but also the whole church,” note Kosałka, Libera, Lutyński and Rzepecki. And they add, “Columns sustain the community, columns sustain heaven, columns sustain authority, columns sustain principles”. However, “As time goes by, the rules become heavier and heavier. Maintaining the rules has become the goal, thus cancelling the previous function”. They also say, “With the passage of time, the rules have fallen. They need to be lifted and maintained at an appropriate level without denying their vertical function.”[1]

The artists' conceptual work and its material realisation at Galeria Bielska BWA have become a contribution to the discussion on contemporary architecture, its coherence with current functions, its accessibility and friendliness for various social groups.

Throughout the summer holidays, the gallery has planned meetings with architects designing the urban fabric and its users - the citizens of the city, which will hopefully result in a better mutual understanding.

The building of Galeria Bielska BWA, which is already heavily degraded, does not meet contemporary standards of accessibility, energy efficiency, and lacks storage for works of art - perhaps it should be designed anew. In its bid for the title of European Capital of Culture 2029, the city of Bielsko-Biała deserves a Centre for Contemporary Art that will accommodate the expanding functions of exhibitions and cultural events.

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[1] Kraków Underground – TRUST THE ARCHITECT. Make yourself a temple, original text for the exhibition, Galeria Bielska BWA, 2024.


 

19 November 2021
saw the establishment of the
artistic ensemble
KRAKÓW UNDERGROUND SUPERGROUP.
The group of artists
“who’ve seen it all” consists of:
Piotr Lutyński,
Zbigniew Libera,
Jerzy Kosałka
Adam Rzepecki. 

Pictured:
KRAKÓW UNDERGROUND SUPERGROUP,
Chandeliers and SCONCES, Vauxhall Visual Arts Gallery in Krzeszowice, 2023; pictured from left: Piotr Lutyński, Jerzy Kosałka, Zbigniew Libera, Adam Rzepecki, photo from artists' archives.
 

KRAKÓW UNDERGROUND. Kosałka, Libera, Lutyński, Rzepecki
Trust the architect. MAKE YOURSELF A TEMPLE
Curator - Agata Smalcerz
Galeria Bielska BWA (upper room)
7th June - 25th August 2024
admission free

 

Artists' text (polish only)

Polish Radio Katowice – about exhibition