Mateusz Kowalczyk portfolio 2023

Bio Visual artist, performer, activist.

Born in 1992 in Warsaw. Graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Faculty of Media Arts; Master Degree at Mirosław Bałka’s Spatial Activities Studio and 3D and Virtual Occurences Studio 2 (2020). Working as an assistant at Basics of Staging Studio at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.

Artist statement Mateusz Kowalczyk instagram: @mateusz8kowalczyk

My artistic activity consists to a large extent of collective activities related to socially engaged art. I manifest my views by taking part in exhibitions and actions supporting pro-democratic and antifascist ideas.

email address:

In recent years, I have explored rituality in participatory and collective

mateusz8kowalczyk

experience. Mostly I work in the mediums of: performance, XR (360 video,

@gmail.com

VR, AR), and site specific installations. Currently, I am the most interested

mobile: +48 535 926 800

in areas where scienece and art can meet and related to this topic of neurodiversity, which I approach as a continuation of the broader theme of healing to which I refered in my previous work.

Living Labour Mechanisms (work in progress) 2023 Between July and October 2023 I participated in Funken Academie Summer School which I passed via open call.

I worked in a group of 10 artists, with tutors and science team at Fraunhofer ENAS laboratory in Chemnitz in Germany. Our topic was to work through sofisticated scientific process called DNA Orgiami.

The summer project resulted in the group exibition of all of Funken Academie SM participants in October 2023 in Chemnitz, for which I have prepared two artworks.

Organisators of the Funken Academie: Kulturhaupstadt Chemnitz 2025, Klub Solitaer, Ars Electronica, Wro Art Center.

DNA origami sessions in Fraunhofer ENAS laboratory in Chemnitz. cc by Johannes Richter, Klub Solitaer

Living Labour Mechanisms VR 6DoF (Degree of Freedom) experience 3D scans, music composition of field recordings taken in laboratory ~10minutes I invite participant to go for a walk through rescaled petri dish inside which they can read a quote from the publication*, expierence the atmosphere of the laboratory and play with the scale of DNA strains.

The artwork aims to allow the participant to understand one of the elements of scientific process of the mysterious field of molecular science called DNA Origami, which I have had experienced but also to look at this branch of science from more critcal perspective. *‘Mutant Ecologies. Manufacturing Life in the Age of Genomic Capital’ by Eric Borg and Amedeo Policante video documentation of VR experience: https://vimeo.com/871098404?share=copy

Snapshots from the VR experience.

Living Labour Mechanisms Sculpture Polymorph (biodegradable plastic), tools used in the laboratory, LED light 60x20x17cm I related to monumental style of Karl Marx head sculpture which is Chemnitz famous for. The use of polymorph to create the sculpture was an important part due to presence of water in the process of preparation of our DNA Origamies in the laboratory.

Pointing up finger bends and misses the direction like the molecular biology when its overtaken by industry and corporation’s interest.

Sculpture detail.

Picture from the final group exibiton in Villa Rosa in Chemntiz. both photos cc by Johannes Richter, Klub Solitaer

Long term artistic cooperation with cultural institution 2021-2023 In January 2021 I started a close cooperation with Wola Cultural Center in Warsaw, initiating the creation of the first XR laboratory operating in a cultural center in Poland. The project resulted in numerous artistic projects done together with the curators.

With the curators of the institution in the peak of the pandemic of coronavirus, we tried to find an different alternative language for to communicate and to present topics of local issues, history and architecture. During this cooperation I have developed and learnt the use of new technologies as: 360 video, AR, 3D scanning, creative interactive virtual spaces (Mozilla Hubs), and VR 6DOF expierences.

The conclusion of my cooperation-residency was an exhibition presented to the public in March 2023 and the creation of an accessible collection of my projects on the institution’s website in three language versions: https://wck-wola.pl/projekt/zasiedzenie-ferment-xr/

3D scan made in the institution interrior by one of the curators.

Selected works created during the cooperation OKOŁO 2021-2023 360 video, 8:15 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pHCXcD6hxs&ab_ channel=WolskieCentrumKultury In this short para-documentary form of 360 video I focused on empty spaces of one of the districts of Warsaw. For the narration I used my own synth composition, and performative and from time to time absurd actions of appearing 3D scans and passers-by.

Frame from the 360 video, wandering chickens and 3D scan of Warsaw Mermaid

It was like this that we bought one CD and from that CD everyone played 2022 interactive experience on Mozilla Hubs platform I have created 5 virtual and interactive rooms, in which residents of the district spoke through their recorded memories about the ‘90 in Warsaw.

One of virtual room consists of recreated rave club called “Rave” which existed for couple years on the other side of the road in the late ‘90.

Public presentation of the interactive virtual experience of the recreated Rave Club in the basement where used to be a dance floor.

Avenue of the Rising Sun (VR) (work in progress) 2022-2023 The VR experience „Avenue of the Rising Sun” was created in relation to Pawel Althamer’s sculptural composition of the same title, and aims to introduce figures of Belarusian oppositionists resisting the regime of Alexander Lukashenko to wider public awareness.

The project’s premise is the use of a realized 3D scan comprising a figurative composition inspired by figures of Belarusian resistance - Andrei Poczabut, Angelika Borys, Maria Kalesnikova, Natalia Hershe and Alane Gebremariam.

Through interactivity, the use of screen captures from run by belarusan activists website spring96.org, poetry by Valzhhyna Mort, the participant is able to experience a work that speaks about the current belarusian upraising in an alternative way.

Video documentantion of the VR expierence: https://vimeo.com/783371704/b3d2304d4d

Snapshots from he VR experience.

Space of Cases 2022

Site specific instalation, performative action in duration of 4 days I did both instalation and performative presence in the main hall of Zacheta National Gallery as a part of the performative program accompanying one of the last exhibitions by the previous curatorial team - Anxiety Comes at Dusk, curated by Magdalena Komornicka.

The symbolic stay in the built on the place nest, was a manifest of grief and a intimate shout out to the audience about the current political situation in Poland.

That year, the Zachęta National Gallery was retaken by right wing director from the current party PIS (which finally lost the elections on 15th of October 2023).

During my 4-day performative action I spent one day on preparing rescaled nest, and in the rest 3 days I was inviting guest of the gallery to do with me exercises using their imagination. My aim was to change their perspective of space, while sitting in the made-of-sticks-nest in a front of rich staircase from the XIX century.

It was one of the more instructive, moving but also exhausting experiences in my practice.

Space of Cases - flow of the 4-day performative action in Zachęta National Gallery. Photos by Jakub CelejC

OPOLNO-ZDRÓJ 2021 - ongoing long term project In the summer of 2021, on the 50th anniversary of the historical symposium, researchers, artists and cultural workers affiliated with The Office for Post-Artistic Services gathered in Opolno-Zdrój in order to, together with the local community, pick up unfinished conversations from 1971. The participants of the Opolno 2071 symposium engaged in various educational, artistic and social activities supporting the activist efforts around the Turów mine. They held discussions on the relationship between humans and nature, and the changing role of ecological art in the 21st century.

Other urgent topics included the climate crisis, environmental justice and the fair transition of coal regions...

More about the context: https://beczmiana.pl/bup/bup-in-english/

Still from video shooting with the view on Turów open mine.

Parade in Opolno-Zdrój with hand made costumes.

Each year I participated in activities in Opolno Zdrój differently. This year (2023) due to stipend recieved by our group The Office for Postartistic Services I could visit in July the village laying at edge of the biggest in Europe lignite open mine to try tool of 3D scanning. In my approach I tried firstly to document the locatons where resident used to live before they were displaced, and places when Nature is still struggling with the lack of water.

My second approach was preserve, using 3D scanning, some part of the village.

What probably won’t survive in the next few years due to the expansion of the Mine is mostly a pre-war, German architecture, which reminds us of the famous times of health resort in Opolno.

3D scans on my sketchfab account: https://sketchfab.com/mateusz8kowalczyk

A swing which I made in Opolno, together with local carpenter Kamil for children to play in the forest. Made of parts from the Mine as ropes for setting up explosives and rubber bands used for supporting the 15-tonne boiler at the CHP plant. Painted with nail polish from the only functioning grocery in the village.

Photogrametry scans taken in 2023 in Opolno-Zdrój during my individual residency

Remains of river Jasnica .

A collage of scans of different electrical pole bases which indcates where discplaced residents lived.

Villa Rudersburg - doctor’s house

Barrier which indicates where starts the protected zone of the open mine.

THE POLISH SHAMAN 2018-2021 Polish Shaman was my main project for the last couple of years and it developed throught series of different performative actions.

Starting point for this project was a need to work with my own spirituality and to performatively react to the current political situation in Poland: growing nationalism on the streets of Warsaw and the influence of the church on public daily life, and politics.

An essential part of the project was inspiration of siberian shamanism, and the role of the shaman in the community, which I tried to bring into modern world, using the language of the contemporary art.

I found a reference in between polish national colors, football gadgets and ecstatic shamanic trance experiences.

In referrence to the traditional costumes, I designed and sewed a full costume, containing a headgear, ornaments-sculptures, painted drum.

I addition to that I wanted to make my action more visible in the public space, by creating the impression that there is real Polish Shaman in Poland. For that I designed A4 format leaflets with my services, which in their form resembled e.g. plumbing services. In a short time, I found on the web, pictures of the flyers on the Polish equivalents of sites like Reddit.

10th Edition of Brodno Sculpture Park, 2018 photo by Tomasz Kaczor

In the performative act in November 2018 I have ritually cleaned passage under the main Warsaw’s roundabout few days after nacionalists acompanied with current goverment leaders went on a National March throught the city.

This video art is avaible under the link below: https://vimeo.com/316323185

10th Edition of Brodno Sculpture Park, 2018 photos by Tomasz Kaczor

Cleansing of the Polish Nation performance photo by Gazeta Wyborcza

Flyer with services of Szaman Polski (in the middle)

At Antifasisct March in 2018, Warsaw. With group of curators and artists.

Group exibition in MoMa Warsaw due to Hestia Artisic Journey competition for young artistst 2019

FUNGAL_responses 2019 The immersive experience Fungal_responses was a hybrid performative experience.

The performance was constructed of different layers.

A prepared costume of wrath from polish folklore, spoken words, live play on flute. From collected 3D scans of the mushrooms, I designed the avatar. Each part of the body was divided and connected to HTC Trackers, which allowed me to fully control and to perform formation of the body of the avatar in front of the participating in the performance person wearing HTC Valve goggles. For me and the audience, the movement of the trackers was visible on the LCD screen.

Act was based on repeated by me in loop, during the performance monologue from a Polish hip-hop track Moja obawa (My fear) by renowned Poland band Kaliber44.

With the text I was introducing each person to the designed VR environment in which the body parts were lyingin the tall grass, surrounded with darkness.

The project was created with the irreplaceable support of 3D and Virtual Occurences 2 Studio.

Link to the wideo documentation: https://vimeo.com/421965394

A frames from the video documentation of the performance at the Powszechny Theater, 2019

Mushroom avatar, designed from 3D scans of mushrooms.

UNDERMINING 2021

live VR performance, HMD, Mozilla Hubs: video, 3D objects, sound The title of the intervention references the mining context as well as human attitudes of sabotage and undermining, the latter term the carrier of a dual meaning: to weaken and destabilise, as is the case when values are challenged in migration, social and climate contexts.

Spaces designed to accommodate shared virtual participation are a set of information policies. They are a mashup of what we receive, a distant shadow of what reaches us. Yet we are hardpressed to reference it in any way, since everything that does reach us has been digested by social media or public TV propaganda formulae.

Seemingly distant spaces become an area of asking questions and seeking personal responses to the forceful need of control and power, potentially resulting in support for the company responsible for the ever-growing expansion of one of the largest brown coal mines in Europe, for example, at the expense of local village inhabitants.

More about: https://horyzontyzdarzenwirtualnych.com/edition/liminal-undermining/?lang=en

Still from the experience. First room in Mozilla Hubs in which I reffered to Turów open liginite

Still from the experience. Second room in Mozilla Hubs in which I reffered to the humanitarian crisis at Polish-Belarus boarder.

ISLE OF ETERNAL WASTE 2019 VR When working on the project, I was basically inspired by everything that surrounded me. When it comes to works of art, Arnold Böcklin’s Isle of the Dead was an additional source of inspiration for me. I was especially driven by its dark visuals alluding to symbolism, which I think describes perfectly the sense of confusion experienced by modern men and women. In this VR project, the Island is a compilation of stories about ourselves. Immersed in virtual reality, we find ourselves surrounded by things that are familiar to us.

All of the objects found on the island, as well as the island itself, are 3D scans done with a smartphone. While they might seem to be inconspicuous every-day objects, they carry an unusual meaning. This is true for the dog treat wrapped in a plastic bag, for the religiously important object taken from the Place of Power hidden deeply in the Białowieża pristine forest, the shreds of banknotes once exhibited in one of the Warsaw’s art galleries or my self-portrait, plastic packaging and other objects or randomly found things that were thrown away, existing without function, no longer recyclable.

Link to the wideo documentation: https://vimeo.com/385844843

Isle of Eternal Waste, screenshots from the expierence, 2019

Artisic CV Education Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Master of Fine Arts, 2020 Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2018 Selected exhibitions and performative activities 2023 Funken Academy, European Summer School, Chemnitz/ Dresden, Germany 2023 Ferment XR, Wola Cultural Centre, Warsaw, PL 2023 Dear future, Staromiejski Dom Kultury / Promocyjna Gallery, Warsaw, PL 2021-22 Opolno Zdrój 2071, postartistic festiwal, Opolno Zdrój, PL 2021 Liminal – the Transitional State, Arsenal Gallery in Białystok, PL 2021 You Ain’t Going Nowhere, 19th Survival Art Review, Wroclaw, PL 2020-21 When the Government is Spying in the Forests, Hide in Hemp, Naked Nerve, Bwa Wroclaw, PL 2020 Wasteland, 18th Survival Art Review, Wroclaw, PL 2020 The water is you, Generator Malta / Festiwal Malta, Poznan, PL 2019 exhibition of the finalists of Hestia’s Artistic Journey, Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, PL 2019 Field Actions, 11th Narracje Festiwal, Gdansk City Gallery / Institute of Urban Culture, Gdansk, PL

2019 Fungal_responses, Powszechny Theatre, Warsaw, PL 2019 VR Showcase / Digital Cultures, Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Warsaw, PL 2018 The Water Queen, Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, PL 2017 – 2018 Gotong Royong, Things We Do Together, Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, PL 2017 II International Parajanov Festival, Exibitions Bureau / Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Lviv 2015-2019 Participation in 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th editions of Bródno Sculpture Park, Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, PL Residencies 2019 Studio residency, Rupert, Lithuania 2018 Performative residency Ponderosa, Stolzenhagen, Germany 2018 Performative residency Burdag Foundation / Centre in Movement, Warsaw Awards 2020 Scholarship of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage for outstanding achievements 2019 Second Prize of Hestia’s Artistic Journey, residental stay