RAGE

RAGE (the statement’s text after the devastation of the mural LOVE)

Dear Sirs,

I have proposed to my friends more than a week ago a taking part in the performance RAGE. As a group of people representing various periods and trends in art we made the mural LOVE in the Imperial Shipyard. In a historical place, but also a recognizable one. To the unfamiliar: not on a church, in a cemetery, synagogue, parliament or some other building. The formula of the battering, therefore physical violence, which lead to the creation of a rainbow-coloured sign MIŁOŚĆ appearing on the wall, is and was to me an underlining of the fact that from the acceleration of conflict which we have in Poland one can leave through dialogue, art and consolidating activities. Unfortunately the situation is different. Our rainbow-coloured sign was vandalized by a drawing of a Celtic cross made by an unknown author. The symbol of racism, white power and today in Poland a symbol of national-catholic white neo-fascism. One would like to say – what a shame. But that is not enough. It is dramatic.

Where however is the conclusion of this lesson. Who should be here made responsible. Most simply the government and the church. Simple calque. But the way I feel about this, the author of the action Phantomic Country, one’s silence in such matters encumbers a much larger cluster of people. One should not blame a cat for being a cat. One should not blame a snail for being slimy. Because it is. But if we are to summon a dog to guard a house and he shall let in a vandal then we begin to think, why do we need a dog? Maybe we should leave it be and buy ourselves a Pekingese to play with.

I would like to see the statement of the High Education Institutions Rectors’ Treaty, the unambiguous position of Palaestra, physicians’ Unions, Architects, Judges and Teachers – what do they think about the current situation. I would like to see the rainbow flag – today not just a symbol of the LGBT communities, but also a sign of tolerance and respected diversity, on my city’s City Hall. I would like to see an unambiguous position during the celebrations of August 80. I would like that these Rectors, local governors, consultants, judges, professors and other such (aka opinion-forming intelligence) to seize their quiet sitting, to clearly communicate. – NO. No to neo-fascism; NO – to the fake patriotism from under the phalanx’s symbol; NO – to the Church, which hosts the festering community of Jasna Góra; NO – to silence. I would like to know whether or not Rectors of universities in which I work or study will walk quietly between the poles or dare to speak out loud their beliefs, does the President of my City want to be at the head of the equality march, will he like his predecessor or chief of city’s police protect present on his streets nationalist marches or not?

I feel embarrassed because of this political silence, because I and friends wake up in the morning to manifest our no through art and tolerance.

PHANTOMIC STATE. THINK TODAY. TOMORROW WILL COME.

Participants: Grzegorz Klaman, Paweł “Paulus” Mazur, Arek “Leśny” Rudnicki, Maciej Śmietański, Mariusz Waras, Jacek Zdybel

Photos: Dominik Kulaszewicz