“Expand” is a series of exhibitions in Lublin, during which the works of the local artistic community are presented. The exhibition works can not only be seen, but also purchased. This fact made Ewa Zarzycka, Magdalena Franczak, and Paweł Korbus reflect on the relationship between art and money.

Exhibition opening: 17/12/2021, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Galeria Labirynt Plaza, ul. Lipowa 13, Lublin
Accessibility: The exhibition is held on the ground floor in a space free from architectural barriers.
On display: until 27/02/2022 (Tue–Sat 1–6 p.m.; Sun 12–7 p.m.)
Admission: Free

The 3rd edition of the “Expand” exhibition is a study on the values of art. How is artistic value transferred into financial value? What variables does this process take into account or do any values, for example social ones, have an impact on it? To what extent can the economic value reflect the intangible one? These are just some of the questions that accompany the exhibition.

Ewa Zarzycka, Magdalena Franczak, and Paweł Korbus approach the subject with both seriousness and irony. They expose and carefully analyse the topic of sales present at the exhibition and its circumstances. Prosaic, commercial reality often imposes the necessity to be an artist, a public relations specialist and a manager at the same time. But do these roles always go hand in hand? The problems they raise are of interest not only to specialists. There are, after all, many stereotypes associated with art in our daily lives, and some of them undoubtedly relate to its financial aspect.

The exhibition is about resistance to an authoritarian state. It was opened on the anniversary of the introduction of martial law in the territory of the Polish People’s Republic. It presents photos by Chris Niedenthal from years 1981–1983 and photos of the Archives of Public Protests, an open platform for the distribution of photos related to socio-political tensions in Poland from 2016 to today. The exhibition has been supplemented with records of the latest anti-war demonstrations related to the crisis in Ukraine.

Opening: 13/12/2021 (Monday), 6:00 p.m., free entry
Where: Galeria Labirynt, ul. Popiełuszki 5
Accessibility: The exhibition is held on the ground floor. In the bookshop you can borrow a wheelchair and earmuffs for free during your stay in the gallery. The gallery has 6 portable induction loops.
Exhibition on display until: 10/04/2022 (Tue–Sun, 12:00 –7:00 p.m.), entrance: PLN 1
Quiet hours: Wednesdays at 3:00–7:00 p.m. – a sensory-friendly period of time dedicated for people who are sensitive to some stimuli. During this time exhibitions sounds and flashing lights are turned off.

13/12/2021, 6:30 p.m. – meeting with participants of the exhibition led by Sylwia Hejno, interpreted into the Polish sign language (PJM) by Ewelina Lachowska and Marta Stępniak

Chris Niedenthal has been creating reportages about Poland and whole Eastern and Central Europe since 1970s. He has worked with American Newsweek, Time Magazine, and Die Spiegel. He witnessed the birth of “Solidarity” movement, imposition of martial law and the fall of communism in Poland.

The Archive of Public Protests has been operating since 2019, but photos of protests have been collected since 2016. The documentary nature of the collection is a footprint of social activity, grassroot initiatives expressing opposition to political decisions, violations democratic principles and human rights. The photos of APP are a warning of increasing populism, xenophobia and discrimination of any form.

APP is being created by Michał Adamski, Marta Bogdańska, Karolina Gembara, Łukasz Głowala, Marcin Kruk, Agata Kubis, Michalina Kuczyńska, Adam Lach, Alicja Lesiak, Rafał Milach, Joanna Musiał, Chris Niedenthal, Wojtek Radwański, Bartek Sadowski, Karolina Sobel, Paweł Starzec, Grzegorz Wełnicki and Dawid Zieliński.

https://archiwumprotestow.pl/protest/strajk-kobiet/?id=5479

Photo credit:
APP, WOMEN’S STRIKE, Alicja Lesiak
Just before imposition of martial law, Warsaw © Chris Niedenthal 1981