Filip Pawlak

Filip Pawlak

Freak show – performance

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Is it possible to express sadness against the dominant ideologies of bodypositive and inspiration porn? How to build pride in what is socially accepted as an image of failure? And – how to skilfully ‘mutilate’ popular cultural clichés that set the social optics against all otherness?

Freak show or performative mutilation of culture. But not for the redress of grievances, but crippling to heal, to subdue and value difference, to share the right to recognise one’s own needs, to reclaim the right to sadness, pride, expression, community, melancholy, fear, anger and pleasure.

What does Freak Show mean for artists with disabilities today? What does it mean for the audience? Can a community of the excluded be built around the tradition of freak shows?

The project involves the creation of a gallery performance and a documentary film depicting the group’s working process.

Performance ready for touring

Premiere: 31.10.2024 Museum Of Modern Art, Warsaw

Creators:

  • Performers:
    • Nadia Markiewicz (costume: Wisła Nicieja, music: Marcel Pieczonka, fragrance: Alchembot, voice training: Agnieszka Kocińska);
    • Babcia (costume: Ewa Zonik, VJ: Kostek Kostewicz);
    • Agata Wąsik (music: Marcel Pieczonka, MUA: Aleksandra Adamska, signing consultant wokalna: Weronika Boczek);
    • Daniel Kotowski (sign language interpreters: Katarzyna Głozak, Marta Kalinowska)
    • Filip Pawlak
  • Directors, curators: Filip Pawlak, Łukasz Ronduda
  • Dramaturgy, final director: Szymon Adamczak
  • Light Director: Sebastian Klim
  • VJ: Wojtek Kaniewski

Film co-creators

  • DOP: Ignacy Ciszewski
  • Sound Director: Jan Moszumański 
  • Production: Madants Film

Project production: Fundacja Inqubator Teatralny, Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw

Project partner: Krytyka Polityczna, Dramatyczny Theatre in Warsaw, Nowy Teatr

The event is produced in the framework of the 6th edition of the Programme for Strengthening Creative Environments conducted by Krytyka Polityczna as part of the implementation of the public task “Jasna 10: Social Institution of Culture” financed by the City of Warsaw

The project was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage within the framework of the programme National Centre for Culture: Culture – Interventions. Edition 2024

Performance webpage (PL)