MACIEJ SALAMON
Maciej Salamon (born 1984), graphic artist, musician, illustrator. Lives in Sopot. He studied at Gdańsk Academy of Fine Arts, where he currently teaches graphic design classes at the Department of Sculpture and Intermedia. Vocalist and guitarist of the Nagorbki, post rock duo. Creator of music videos and animations. Awarded many times for his work. Leads Galerias Gablotka, an independent art gallery which has been presenting works of artists since twenty-nine exhibitions.
ANOTHER YEAR IN THE URN The show focuses on the visual aspect of the band’s oeuvre, obsessive references to the topic of death, contemporary vanitas and thanatophobic-funeral design. The works fea- tured in the exhibition: videos, sculptures, posters, album covers, T-shirts and other objects, are not merely an addition to the musical output of the band: they are arranged into a new narration-installation of a cemetery, showing intentional correlations between the works and emphasizing the paradox- ical vitality of death. Is it worth imposing the perspective of death on life? On the other hand, is it possible not to apply such perspective if you have already begun doing so? Reflection on death – a fundamental thought that seizes other perspectives – cannot be stopped. Mortality salience never leaves the thinking individual, deeming their future life senseless or leading to the acceptance of the in- evitable (amor fati). As Socrates allegedly said: “Ordinary peo- ple seem not to realize that those who really apply themselves in the right way to philosophy are directly and of their own ac- cord preparing themselves for dying and death” (Plato, Phaedo).
exhibition overview, Trafostacja Sztuki in Szczecin, 2018
Manequin in band t-shirt, Trafostacja Sztuki in Szczecin, 2018
Record covers in granith, Trafostacja Sztuki in Szczecin, 2018
Poland, wooden table, Trafostacja Sztuki in Szczecin, 2018
FLOWER POWER Flowe Power is an ongoing project about plants. It contains objects and collages. Objects are made from plants from historical sites of Gdańsk’s Shipyard. The place where Solidarity was born is now devastated by developers without any respect for its unique architecture. Plants are the only living creatures which survives. Second part of the project is based on hand cut collages made from Barbara Everard’s book flowers of the world. Flowers form a Golem, which in the artist’s intention is to come and save the Gdańsk Shipyard.
Flower Power, plants in silicone, 2017
Flower Power (detail), plants in silicone, 2017
Golem 3, collage, 2017-18
Golem 4, collage, 2017-18
Golem 1, collage, 2017-18
Golem 2, collage, 2017-18
SCREEN PRINTS Series of screen prints made from 2015-2017.
above: Worship coin, screen print, 2017 below: Mama Africa, screen print, 2015
above: Rainbow, screen print, 2017 below: NYC under water, screen print, 2016
Island, screen print, 2017
above: Hunting, screen print, 2017 below: Car crash, screen print, 2017
above: Skyfolding, screen print, 2016 below: Potato country, screen print, 2015
above: Gallery, screen print, 2016 below: Shipyard, screen print, 2016
above: Head, screen print, 2017 below: Riots, screen print, 2015
above: Canis Lupus, screen print, 2016 left: How it works, screen print, 2017
Car trash, screen print, 2017
Earthworks Project is the result of a long-term project carried out by Maciej Salamon and Maciej Chodziński in different regions of Poland. By showing care for the natural environment, artists treat the heritage of landart in a perverse way, implementing the bioeutanasia plan: “Firing forests, concreting meadows and other GreenWar techniques proposed by the authors are designed to accelerate the warming of the climate and the evaporation of the atmosphere in order to restoration of the original, rocky surface of the planet. In the final stage of the project, the soil will be filled with salt and pouring concrete layer, thanks to which we will prevent regrowth of vegetation and we will get an even, smooth surface, effectively covering the embarrassing past of this dissolute planet. “ Focused on activities away from city centers, which are in fact only an apparent interference with the natural environment, they pay attention not only to how absurdly nature is destroyed by man, but also act across the utopian actions of radical defenders of nature. Project website: http://robotyziemne.blogspot.com
Instalation: tv, smoke, wood pieces, Warszawa, 2016
Instalation: tv, smoke, tools, wood pieces, Bytom, 2016
Instalation: tv, smoke, wood pieces, Bytom, 2016
Instalation: tv, smoke, Katowice, 2016
Stos, Anna Steller, Maciej Salamon, performance, 2018
STOS (the Pit)
Stos, Maciej Salamon, paintings, 2018
Were there sudden deaths in your area? Have you ever sat on the roof? Did you burn your warts when you were young? Do you like sex without procreation? Do you buy fresh herbs in Lidl? Do you have swollen eyes in the morning? Do you shudder before a child? Do you weigh less than 49.5 kilos? Do the neighbors still argue? Do you have hardened fingertips? Do you accept abortion? In the 17th century, Katarzyna Wietzen was accused of witchcraft by the Saxon inquisitors and burned on the market in Szczecin in terrible torments (hopefully the executioner had already turned her neck from pity). You live in an egalitarian, balanced, empathic and secular society of the 21st century, in which the responsibility for all deficiencies has been democratically individualized. You are brave and independent. You love white rhinoceros. Turn on the smartphone, aim the camera towards you, protest and then self-immolate. Enjoy a unique and wonderful experience.
the last supper
Last supper based on Leonardo Davinci’s one. Made from mosquitos from Gdańsk.
PAINTINGs 2017-2018
left top: “Hunters”, acrylic on canvas, 2018 right top: “Bite”, acrylic on canvas, 2018 left bottom: “Young Chopin”, acrylic on canvas, 2018 right bottom: “Birds”, acrylic on canvas, 2017
Instalation, wooden baby bed, Gdansk, 2015
newspaper, Gdansk, 2015
THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BORN
Instalation, razor rain, Gdansk, 2015
is a project of three artists - the poet Grzegorz Kwiatkowski and visual artists Maciej Salamon and Maciej Chodziński. Salamon and Chodziński submitted selected poems by Kwiatkowski to his own, visual interpretation, giving them the form of publishing and related installation. The project is a continuation of the artistic and intellectual dialogue that has been going onfor several years between three artists. “They should not be born” is the motto of their joint activities, and also the title of their last joint exhibition (http://nieurodzic.blogspot.com/)
screenshot from Grassowka
GRASSOWKA
Grassowka is an interactive computer game about the old Gdańsk, whose script was inspired by the historical and literary motifs taken from the books written by Günter Grass. Throughout three levels of the game the main protagonists: The Tin Drum, The Flounder and Aleksandra Piątkowska with Alexander Reschke lead the players to different places in Gdańsk very well-known from the novels like “The Tin Drum”, “The Flounder” and “The Call of the Toad”. They encounter various obstacles, evade unexpected traps, and perform different tasks. Additionally the narrators comment on their activities using the quotations from Günter Grass’s novels.
screenshot from Grassowka
Galeria Gablotka, Streetwaves festival, Gdansk 2015
GALERIA GABLOTKA
Galeria Gablotka, Sopot, 2017
Galeria Gablotka is an artist run gallery space. Galeria Gablotka was established in March 2010 on the initiative of its founding fathers: Maciej Salamon and Tomek Wierzchowski. From the beginning of its existence, its creator is guided by the slogan: “Glory to us and our colleagues.” According to this idea, artists presenting their works in Gabloteka are colleagues of the founding fathers. The space of the Cabinet, despite being limited to one small socialist cabinet in the former building of the Gdańsk Shipyard Directorate, is extremely inspiring.
Galeria Gablotka, Streetwaves festival, Gdansk 2015
Galeria Gablotka, Gdansk, 2016
Galeria Gablotka, Gdansk, 2017
Galeria Gablotka says ferwell to Gdansk Shipyard, Gdansk, 2015
GRIEF NOT FUN
Is a mural created in Białystok. It was made with chalk. That means that when people ale are using on a narow staircase and tourching it the mural is slowly disapearing.
Grief not fun, chalk on wall, Bialystok 2015
SLAYER
The non-existent Slayer mural is the transfer of one of the most popular metal band logos to the wall of one of the shipyard halls. The Slayer in English means the assassin. In 2014, the antique hall with “the Slayer” sign was assasined.
Slayer, mural, Gdansk 2015
SHIpYARD HERBARIUM From the beginning of existence of Shipyard Herbarium it consisted of plants found in the area of the former Gdańsk Shipyard, where my studio was located. Since closing of Gdańsk Shipyard the plats took over post industrial spaces. A large meadow full of wild flora was created in the city center. In recent years, these areas have begun to change. Now the area belongs to a Danish developer, which, with the permission of the city authorities, mercilessly destroys the remains of the former glory of this place. A silent witness to these events are plants from the shipyard meadow.
Shipyard Herbarium, plants in silicone, Hamburg, 2017
Shipyard Herbarium, plants in silicone, Gdansk 2016
Shipyard Herbarium, plants in silicone, Gdansk 2016
Shipyard Herbarium, plants in silicone, Hamburg, 2017
BIRDHOUSE GALLERY
Birdhouse Gallery is a paricipatory art project run by two artists: Maciek Salamon and Nedyalko Delchev. It is all about creating an European littlegallery network. Instead of renting a place for a gallery we are trying to make galleries by ourselves (together with workshops participants). So far project took place in: Spain, Sweden, England, Ireland, Kosovo, Serbia, Slovenia, Poland, Croatia. Participants are connected thru facebook and website so that they can exchange expiriences and thoughts.
Birdhouse Gallery, Prizren Kosovo, 2016
Birdhouse Gallery, San Sebastian, Basque Country, 2016
CARBONEUM
Carboneum, mural, Katowice, 2016
Coal (C, Latin, carboneum) is in the fourth place of the most common elements in the Universe. It has the ability to form very long chains. These properties of coal make it the chemical basis of life. Instalation is located in public space in Katowice (Silesia). Silesia is a region rich in carbon-based forms of living as well as rich resources of fossil fuels. In connection with this, the work of Carboneum commemorates billions of dead plants that gave us their carbon particles, thus enabling mankind to exploit fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. As we know, this process contributes to the greenhouse effect, which will soon prevent the further development of developed forms of life on earth.
Shipyard Frogger, computer game, Gdansk 2015
SHIPYARD FROGGER
Shipyard Frogger is an online flash game based on classic arcade game Frogger from 1981. Shipyard Frogger refers to situation of Young City in Gdańsk. Authorities are trying to build highway thru the area of Shipyard, separating it from the city center. Help little frog to get to shipyard thru Nowa Wałowa highway.
The way is a joy, mural, Gdansk, 2016
Large scale murals
YES WE CAN!, mural, Gdynia, 2016
Bus Stop, wood, acrylic paint, Sopot 2011
BUS STOP
The starting point for ARTbus project was the idea that artists should interfere in the public space of Sopot in places where art has not been present before, referring to the nature of the city. 187 bus route which runs almost through the whole city – from the center to the outskirts – is perfect for this project as it is also a convenient transport to/from places of presentations. Maciej Salamon made a wooden sitting coffin. Object refers to a polish expresion: "Waiting till death". You use it when waiting for a bus seems endless.
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