Tadeusz Kantor (1915-1990). Emballage, Cricotage and Madame Jarema

Tadeusz Kantor (1915-1990) was a demiurge of the Polish experience of memory and loss. The most cosmopolitan of Polish artists and the most Polish among the world’s artistic elite, his work conferred upon the Polish identity, invoked in the poignant Theatre of Love and Death, the dimension of a universal spectacle. Fascinating, uncompromising, relentless, and yet visionary and brilliant, he captivated audiences across the world. His theatre, his understanding of acting and sensitivity to the subtlest chords of the human condition ensured that he became, and has since stayed, an iconic figure of global reach.

The exhibition features a screening of the celebrated performance The Dead Class (1975), regarded as a masterpiece, juxtaposed with the legendary sculptural mannequins of girls, and boys eternally trapped in school desks. A key aspect of the exhibition is the presentation of Maria Jarema (1908-1958) — her exceptional monotypes and costumes she designed for Kantor’s early performances. She was a brilliant painter and sculptor, laureate of the F. Nullo Polish-Italian Society award during the Biennale Arte 1958, and the only person whose judgment Kantor fully trusted. Their relationship formed the foundation of Cricot 2.