Polish artist rejected from Venice Biennale to showcase own exhibition near national pavilion
The Polish artist originally chosen to represent the country at the Venice Biennale this year will showcase his works at an international exhibition opening next week. Ignacy Czwartos, selected by the previous administration, will exhibit 15 paintings in an off-site exhibition near the Polish Pavilion in the Giardini titled “Polonia Uncensored”. The exhibition will feature paintings depicting figures and events from Polish history banned during the communist regime. Czwartos’s project was initially canceled by the new government, leading to accusations of censorship. Despite this, the exhibition will proceed with the support of the Polish diaspora. Czwartos’s works touch on controversial topics such as German war criminals and Europe’s relationship with President Putin. The exhibition is curated by Piotr Bernatowicz and aims to defend freedom of speech and art. The decision to cancel Czwartos’s project was met with criticism, and Poland is now represented by the Open Group collective at the Biennale.
Source
Naz Baydar graduated from Middle East Technical University with a degree in Product Design. She furthered her education by completing a master’s degree in Art Direction at Elisava in Barcelona. Her work blends art direction, multimedia narratives, and design to craft innovative and transformative experiences. Naz is passionate about creating visual stories that evoke strong emotions and deliver meaningful impact. In addition to her work, she has a deep interest in philosophy and literature, which continuously inspire and enrich her creative process.