She finished Photographic School GFU run by Folkuniversitetet in Stockholm, European Academy of Photography in Warsaw, and photography at Film School in Łódź. In 2007, the artist won third place in Samsung Art Master competition for “Video Camera” video. Her works have been exhibited at institutions such as Zachęta – National Gallery of Art in Warsaw, Jewish Museum in New York, and International Venice Biennale. She received Views 2013 Deutsche Bank Award, the third prize in 2007 Samsung Art Master competition, and Golden Claw Award in Visions Apart Competition at the 41st Gdynia Film Festival. She is an assistant professor at Academy of Art in Szczecin. In recent years she has been working in Taiwan and Poland, engaging in interdisciplinary artistic and academic practices. She lives and works in Warsaw.
“Square”, 2018
video, 01:12’54’’
Karolina Breguła creates videos and objects, she is the author of installations. Her works revolve around issues related to the function and structure of works of art as well as around topics related to subjectivity and power relations, utopia, control mechanisms, oppression, and manipulation. In “Square” video the artist raises the problem of human powerlessness and fear of confrontation with what can disturb our peace – difficult questions that are better not to ask or hear. Breguła presents human conformism and pullback occurring in situations that require action and courage. The main motif in the video is forgotten sculpture hidden in the bush in the middle of the square. One day, the sculpture begins to sing. At first, its song gives people joy and gathers residents in one place, giving them an excuse and the opportunity to be together. Unfortunately, the singing and its very presence become rather troublesome issue. Eventually the sculpture is at risk of removal, because by singing it asks a question about a possibility of asking a question – the question causes fear. Each society and every individual have their hidden fears, traumas, unsolved issues, which are drowned out, sometimes at the price of own freedom. The effect of fear is unproductive, dulling passivity or increasing anger and aggression. The collective in Breguła’s work has no strength to look in the mirror and into each other’s eyes. The video is also a personal confrontation of the artist with her own fear and helplessness, as well as a reflection on the function and possibilities of art.
