born 1992, Puławy
A graduate of Faculty of Media Art at Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw (2019). Winner of the main prize of 18th edition of Hestia Artistic Journey competition (2019). She deals with performative activities, experimental video, and photography. She is interested in the identity and image of people, their entanglement as well as in dependencies in the socio-political sphere. Working with viewers is very important for her.
“What to Take for War?”, 2018/2019
Videoinstallation 6’23’’
“I’m afraid of current politics, anxiety prevailing in the world. I read daily about new conflicts in media. For four years, Ukraine, which is a borderland of my country, has been at war with Russia. More than 10 thousand people has already been killed there. Putin’s aggressive policy increases the atmosphere of danger. No one can feel safe anymore.” – writes Barbara Gryka. In “What to Take for War?” video work the artist plays the role of a modern vlogger who is preparing for war. The film exposes the naivety of a girl raised in peace time. By imitating the style of YouTube’s clips, Gryka presents and packs things that, in her opinion, can help her survive: lip gloss to moisturise lips, brushes “that will help if case of any wound”, small hotel shampoos, gels and body lotions, but also a blindfold “if I really wouldn’t want to see something in war”, or ear plugs “if I wouldn’t want to hear anything”. By showing the naivety of a girl raised in peace times, the video eloquently highlights the monstrosity and absurdities of war.
