Brutal Ink

Venue details

Gallery WM
Elandsgracht 35
1016 TN Amsterdam
T: +31 20 42 11 113
www.gallerywm.com

Event details

The WM Gallery is exhibiting Brutal Ink; a unique duo-exhibition of work by Polish photographers Maurycy Gomulicki and Katarzyna Mirczak, on the Polish tradition of raw tattooing. In their series, the photographers both shed different lights on the relatively unknown Polish practice.

The series of Mirczak (Poland 1980) features 25 images of glass jars filled with formaldehyde, in which pieces of tattooed flesh and skin are carefully preserved. The oldest jar contains skin dating back to 1875. Deterrent yet at the same time beautiful, the images leave the viewer feeling a combination of revulsion as well as fascination for the subject matter. Gomulicki (Poland 1969) shot the largest part of his series in Polish prisons, capturing the heavy tattoo’s worn by detainees.

The two series give insight into a fascinating creative practice with a rich history. A practice that is more and more becoming a part of our society, but is still gravely understood by many. The exhibition is part of the programming of the GRID Festival, which is taking place from May 16th until July 1st; WM Gallery is the festival’s representative of Polish contemporary art.