Poland. Piotr Uklański

Piotr Uklański exhibition at the National Museum is the first Krakow presentation of the works of this artist, who is renowned in Poland as well as abroad. The reflection upon national iconography that he has been developing for over two decades – including the iconic works Solidarity, John Paul II, Polesploitation – assume the form of the exhibition this time. The theme of the new cycle of over fifty photographs is Poland. Colorful, as well as black and white photographs shown in the temporary exhibition room of the NMK, stress the artist's interest in the native landscape and national myths.

Artist about the exhibition: Poland has been the principal theme of my art for the last twenty years. Polish history, national iconography, religious symbolism

Collective mythologies have been the theme of my works, as well as the source of their aesthetics. For the National Museum in Krakow, I propose an exhibition of photographs that I started working on inspired by the result of the last elections in Poland on the one hand, and the upcoming 100th anniversary of Polish Independence on the other hand. Political breakthrough of 2016 sets a turning point in the way Polish identity and history are discussed in the public sphere. It is also important from the point of view of the newly established position of Poland in the European Union, as well as in the world. Polish society that is at the crossroads has to find the answers to the most basic questions: who are the Poles, actually? Where are we going (as a nation)? What shapes our sense of identity, history, collective goals?