NOWY ZŁOTY exhibition XVI
Małgorzata Mycek
Life Is Too Short to Drink Bad Wine

The exhibition by Małgorzata Mycek is the sixteenth edition of the exhibition organised as a part of the informal initiative NOWY ZŁOTY (NEW GOLDEN), temporarily hosted at OSA Open Antifascist Studio, which is a part of Galeria Labirynt. The artist was nominated by Maria Kniaginin-Ciszewska, in accordance with the formula functioning since 2019 – an artist presenting a work at a given moment provides three artists, and the curational team – Magdalena Kreis and Yuriy Biley – selects one of them. 

When: 10/12/2021 (Friday, 7:00 p.m.), free admission

Where: OSA Open Antifascist Studio in front of Galeria Labirynt

Accessibility: The exhibition is located in the OSA kiosk in front of Galeria Labirynt building – a space inaccessible to people with motor disabilities. Description of works in PJM – after scanning the QR code. The opening will be translated into PJM by Ewelina Lachowska.

On view until: 30/01/2022 (Tue–Sun 12:00–7:00 p.m.), admission: PLN 1

Małgorzata Mycek works in the medium of painting, for the exhibition in NOWY ZŁOTY she created a series devoted to exploitation in the area of work, including artistic work. The title of the exhibition is the quote taken from mugs, stickers, or posters that often can be found at homes. Mycek draws her inspiration from this motif and refers to the similar “motivational” slogans and incentives. Her paintings, created on used advertising banners, are accompanied by the following text:

„Let’s take matters into your own hands! You are your own mistress and the architect of your own fortune. Life is all about everyday choices, and not choosing is also a choice. Some dream of success, while others get up every morning and make it happen. Have you tried #SlowLife yet? No one else has as much influence on our lives as we do. If you earn too little, why don’t you change your job? If you are not satisfied with your appearance, why not start going to the gym and to the beautician? Buy organic food, and eat five meals a day. Your matcha must be stirred with a bamboo stick, otherwise it will taste like a dishwater. Successful people wake up at 6 a.m. every morning! Try this as well, and practice Ashtanga in the meadow at dawn.

Waking up at 6 a.m. didn’t work? If so, set your alarm a few minutes earlier. You don’t have money for the gym? You can work out at home, 45 minutes a day should be enough. Organic apple is too expensive? Are you still complaining about your job? Your negative attitude is the problem. Don’t identify yourself with the workwoman toiling away in Amazon, you better check out what’s going on with Jessica Mercedes.

It is hard to spot inequalities and systemic violence when viewed from a privileged position. But don’t think about it! Life is too short to drink bad wine! Live, love, and have fun! Never give up! After all, that’s what it says on a cracked ceramic mug you bought at a Chinese supermarket.

Find the answer within yourself: How much freedom do you feel? Use any scale”.

Małgorzata Mycek (born in 1993 in Sanok) – in 2020 she obtained a Master’s Degree at the Faculty of Painting and Drawing at the University of the Arts Poznań under the supervision of Professor Dominik Lejman. She is the finalist of the 40th edition of the Maria Dokowicz best graduation diploma competition, and 19th edition of the Hestia Artistic Journey (Artystyczna Podróż Hestii) competition. She is a cofounder of the Bomba Publishing (Wydawnictwo Bomba) initiative, which publishes socially engaged zines. In 2019, Bomba was awarded in national Young Wolves (Młode Wilki) competition.

She is a painter and performer from Poznań. She grew up in a small village in the Bieszczady Mountains at the turn of the millennium. In her works she is particularly interested in a motive of periphery, which in mainstream discussion is often romanticised, just as many aspects related to the rural life, such as deep-seated sexism, are overlooked. In her projects, there is visible interest in vernacular culture, queer, and involvement in current political affairs.

See more: www.instagram.com/malgorzatamycek_fanclub/

NOWY ZŁOTY (formerly ZŁOTY KIOSK – GOLDEN KIOSK) – an independent exhibition initiative operating since 2019. For almost two years, it used the architectural facility created by Rewizja Grupa Projektowa in Wrocław – the Golden Kiosk located in one of the yards in the Ołbin estate. Twelve views-exhibitions were realised there. In May 2021, the programme, under a changed name, moved to OSA Open Antifascist Studio, which is part of Galeria Labirynt. NOWY ZŁOTY is going to stay here until it is going to find another place in Wrocław.

Curatorial team: Magdalena Kreis, Yuriy Biley