December 2023 - Galeria Labirynt

About the exhibition

Step into the provocative world of “Dicktopia”, an exhibition that revisits the avant-garde spirit of “Dickgina” – a series of paintings born in Bakhmut in 2020, which had to be left behind as the artist had to flee his work space. The supposedly destroyed embodying piece had vibrant hues of the rainbow flag, aimed to spotlight the queer community in this small town.

Exhibition opening:
When: 12/12/2023, (Tuesday), 6:00 p.m.
Where: Galeria Labirynt 2, ul. Grodzka 3, Lublin
Accessibility: The exhibition is held in a space not accessible for people with motor impairments..
Exhibition on display: till 31/12/2023 (Tue–Sun 3:00–7:00 p.m.).
Admission: free.

Despite “Dickgina’s” tragic fate, “Dicktopia” emerges as a homage, infusing fresh perspectives into the latent concept of 2020. Executed in an acid-soaked, street-style narrative, the canvases unfold like feverish psilocybin dreams after nights of raving and drug-induced exploration. In this private space, you will meet the imaginative world of the artist – and three holy icons of this new realm: Toxicity, Fascism, and Binary. These “surreal saints” navigate a patriarchal apocalyptic reality, poised to obliterate all in their path. Initially alluring, especially in a heightened state, they reveal their perilous nature only in the final revelation, leaving viewers to grapple with the consequences of their allure.

“Dicktopia” invites you to find comfort in facing the dangerous allure of its three enigmatic saints. During the opening we invite you to embody resistance against oppressive energies. We invite you to view the works while collectively dancing to a prerecorded ambient-rave set.

Yevhen Trachuk is a queer artist and activist from Bakhmut currently based in Kyiv. Their art practice started in 2019 in a framework of “DonbasQueer” initiative.

In 2020, Yevhen did dozens of collage works, deconstructing their sexuality and perception of gender, started to film a movie about their hometown discovering “places of power” (remains unfinished), curated an art project called “Captives” (“Полонені”) telling the stories of LGBTQ+ youth for different reasons forced to live while hiding their identity in the occupied areas of Ukraine; participated in Maria Vyshedska’s art laboratory “Ne.Freska”, two works being placed on the wall of “Peremoha” cinema (the current state is unknown).

In 2021, they developed a series of digital collages for “Galereya Neotodryosh” zine, discovering boundaries of their own sexuality. The zine itself is a printed revision of a project in Severodonetsk that used abandoned places as galleries. The very first issue aimed to give a platform for young artists from Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and share their voices among the public. The series grew into a audiovisual project, presented during the events of PrideMonth 2021 in Kyiv.

For the last two years, Yevhen mainly shares their old work to be presented within group exhibitions around Europe.

Cennik

Język

Kuratorzy

Audiodeskrypcja

Artyści/artystki

Marta Zgierska “Idle motion”

10-5-2025 - 15-6-2025

Galeria Labirynt

Mieke Bal “Don Quijote: Sad Countenances“

31-3-2025 - 19-4-2025

Galeria Labirynt

08-12-2023 - 05-5-2024

Galeria Labirynt

About the exhibition

Exhibition opening: 08/12/2023 (Friday), 7:00 p.m.
Where: Galeria Labirynt (Curort Vieniava space), ul. ks. J. Popiełuszki 5, Lublin
Accessibility: The exhibition is held on the ground floor in a space free from architectural barriers. The opening will be interpreted into Polish Sign Language (PJM) by Marta Stępniak, and into Ukrainian by Volodymyr Dyshlevuk.
Exhibition on display: until 5/05/2024 (Tue–Sun: 12:00-7:00 p.m.)
Admission: free.

Artists: Barbara Gryka, HERR WUNDER (Kuba Niedźwiedź), Przemysław Piniak, Kamil Janczewski (bolimnienoga), Agata Konarska, Blanka Rzepecka
Curators: Waldemar Tatarczuk, Mateusz Wszelaki

The opening of the exhibition will be accompanied by a performance by Ala Urwał.

“We Shall Save the World – The Young and the Elder One, Hand in Hand!” – these prophetic words we recently heard at a gathering, informally formed in one of Lublin’s cafés. Amid the vibrant company, the aroma of coffee, and pouring wine, a group of young people rose, passionately trying to convince us of the necessity of collectivism, a shared cause, walking hand in hand, and rejecting all disagreements. At first, it was difficult to notice any real influence of this group. That was until the prophecy was proclaimed… Where did this sudden solemnity in their words come from? Such seriousness and the ability to touch human hearts? We found ourselves asking. From that moment on, personal problems weren’t the essence, but the message flowing from being together. Who are these young ones, and who is the elder one? What is the role of the mentioned elder? Every person who was with us in the café pulled out notebooks, pieces of paper, remnants of napkins and started taking notes. And those were plans on how to save the world. At times naive, effusive, some written with the awareness of lacking the necessary means. But they existed, they were happening, the magic of stepping beyond closed minds was there. Suddenly, they became open to the reality around them, which they couldn’t avoid.

We literally felt as if the moon had come closer to us. We became as if enchanted by magic. The magic of the night, the moment, the enduring. The magic of dreams, the ritual of collective becoming… indeed, becoming who, exactly? Who do we become when we attempt to act? Of course, it’s clear – Enchantresses. They change reality. And the moon accompanies them.

Suddenly, applause and a quick return to reality. Once again amid coffee, the buzz of conversations, and surrounded by the concerns of personal everyday life. But we, still seated at the same table, knew that something was smouldering within us. We knew that, having this something within, we must answer the call that still echoes. A call that sounds, that rumbles like a bell in Wawel’s tower. Therefore, we invite you into the world of our responses, our analysis, our tears, and joy. Of dance and dream, trance and mortal reality. Us, the young and our elder one, Waldemar. Because after all, we always look up to our elders, no matter how much they may irritate us. We always carry some legacy. We always enter a labyrinth – of meanings, perspectives, opinions, praise, and criticism.

Let the moon shine brightly, as the band drums up a lively march!

(text: Mateusz Wszelaki)

Cennik

Język

Kuratorzy

Audiodeskrypcja

Artyści/artystki