I could live in Africa 3 / Belarus

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The third part of The Krasnals participation in the exhibition
"I could live in Africa"

"Russian Roulette / Belarus 2009"
- MoMA Warsaw
24 July - 19 September 2010
- Witte de With CCA, Rotterdam
February 20, 2010 - April 25, 2010
- „Russian Roulette / Belarus 2009” Gorky Park Minsk; June 2009.

A series of paintings "Russian Roulette / Belarus 2009" was created on the basis of photographs documenting a secret exhibition of The Krasnals in Gorky Park in Minsk in June 2009.

The Krasnals initiated in Minsk a unique sculpture park. The works have been camouflaged in such a way not to provoke the authorities, they made the impression as they were objects naturally placed in the environment. Their meaning could be easily read "between the lines" in which people of Belarus are exercised to perfection.
The main, central object was the installation of 'Mannequins without heads ", referring directly to the Lukashenko government policy, providing complete control over its citizens. To make the camouflage, mannequins were placed on the roof of the car, in the usual manner, as they were part of a clothes stall.


The Krasnals. Whielki Krasnal "Belarusian Mannequins / Belarus 2009 ". 2009. Oil on canvas. 40 x 53 cm

On one of the trees we hung a "ban on parking and stopping." It suggested that here in the circle of art, it is absolutely forbidden to stop even for a moment by citizens of Belarus. It is a dangerous area, and the proper process of citizens brainwashing can be disturbed.


The Krasnals. Whielki Krasnal "Ban on parking and stopping / Belarus 2009". 2009. Photography, limited edition 1/10. 70 x 100 cm

A few steps next to it there was a "beautiful prison". It was symbolized by the very aesthetic piece, originally designed decorative grid, which was a part of the fence at the small pavilion trade. Pavilion, with a red Coca-Cola advertising, however, was a perverse symbol of the triumph of capitalism.


The Krasnals. Whielki Krasnal "Nice prison / Belarus 2009 ". 2009. Photography, limited edition 1/10. 70 x 100 cm


The Krasnals. Whielki Krasnal "Belarusian Coca-cola / Belarus 2009 ". 2009. Oil on canvas. 40 x 53 cm

The entire park, which was the secret territory of art, was at a specific place, next to the former casino. When you raised the sight, you could see the old neon sign that says "Kazino. Black ominous circles of the former windows reminded us, that willy-nilly all is ruled here by the Russian Roulette.


The Krasnals. Whielki Krasnal "Belarusian casino. Belarusian casino. Russian Roulette / eyeholes / Belarus 2009 ". 2009. Oil on canvas. 40 x 53 cm

When we were invited to the exhibition in MoMA in Warsaw and CCA Witte de With in Rotterdam, we found that the best scene to recreate the atmosphere of the 80's in Poland in an exotic way due to the curator's vision, would be to find ourselves in the present situation of Belarus.
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The Krasnals participation in "I could live in Africa" MoMA Warsaw and Rotterdam’s Witte de With

The Krasnals participating in the group exhibition:
"I could live in Africa"
Witte de With CCA, Rotterdam
February 20, 2010 - April 25, 2010

and
Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw
July 24 - September 19, 2010
Curated by Michał Wolinski, in collaboration with Nicolaus Schafhausen and Anne-Claire Schmitz

The exhibition offers a compelling image of the Polish art scene of the 1980s as a constellation of collectives and practices that emerged throughout the decade, propelled by the ever stronger grip of the authorities on publishing, recording and information circulation.
All of The Krasnals paintings selected for "I could live in Africa" exhibition were created as the part of the project "Revolutions not for cretins" ( http://revolution-thekrasnals.blogspot.com/ ) and are the youngest art generation tribute to that period of Polish history.

Joanna Mytkowska, the director of Warsaw MoMa speaks about The Krasnals paintings:
"Perhaps the lack of pathos, not emphasizes the uniqueness of the time, but they were able to capture the spirit of freedom and rebellion, which is also part of that history. It is understandable to Western audiences and for the younger generation."


The Krasnals. Whielki Krasnal "Joanna Mytkowska - 'I could live in Africa' – but here in Poland I get more Money, than bananas in Africa. / Monkey with white banana – from the series Animal Planet, Great Poles and Great Dictators." 2010. Oil on canvas. 55 x 46 cm


Whielki Krasnal “Untitled (Group of Monkeys with White Bananas)” . 2004. Oil on canvas. 50 x 50 cm
This painting became the sympol of art market and art corporation criticism.
Auction house Christie’s estimated this piece at 50-70,000 GBP. The work is refering to the painting of Wilhelm Sasnal “Untitled (Group of Monkeys with White Margins)”. The provocation of The Krasnals uncovered the art market mechanisms and ridiculous schematic thinking of art professionals.
Monkeys and bananas are not really so exotic. They function perfectly in all periods of time. Of course both in 80-s as well as today in contemporary art world era.


The Krasnals: Object 1,2,3,4 "Stampede / The world withoud wars". 2008. Oil, spray on canvas. 70 x 100 cm


The Krasnals: Object 1 "But we wanted to fuck a corpse." 2008. Oil on canvas. 54 x 65 cm


Object 2 "Freedom!" 2008. Oil on canvas. 70 x 100 cm


The Krasnals: Object 1 "Long live the ball! / Fight for soft pricks / Mikhail Gorbachev / from the series 'circus on wheels' and 'Great Poles'." 2008. Oil on canvas. 60 x 90 cm


The Krasnals: Object 1,2,3,4 "Fight for soft pricks / from the series' Circus on wheels' / the series' World without wars '." 2008. Art object participating in performance.


The Krasnals: Object 4 "I am a virgin." 2008. Oil on canvas. 60 x 50 cm


The Krasnals: Object 1 "Luncheon meat / 1". 2008. Oil on canvas. 50 x 73 cm


The Krasnals: Object 1 "Lacan's lamella". 2008. Oil on canvas. 116 x 160 cm


The Krasnals: Object 1,2,3,4 "Fight for soft pricks / from the series' Circus on wheels' / the series' World without wars '." 2008. Performance.
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