Łukasz Surowiec
Nobody Is Afraid To Die
Nobody Is Afraid To Die, an exhibition from Łukasz Surowiec that has developed as a result of the experiences he encountered in his previous artistic work, which consisted of working with the homeless, unemployed, as well as alcoholics. In his show, Surowiec refers to the strategy-specific gift economy, which seems to be the artist’s axis of proceedings in a number of actions taken by him, such as in Carts or even Black Diamonds. It is a strategy that seeks to provide tools to excluded groups so that they can “deal with the world,” lead a better way of life. In the show, Surowiec makes it a point to emphasize the problem of alcoholism and those dependent on it, specifically, their addictions and ways of functioning. His actions are directed to those outside of the healthcare system, not amenable to the traditional ways of treatment and methods of fighting addictions.
Through his project, Łukasz Surowiec wants to examine the possibility of launching a program beginning a production of alccoins as a means of payment, forms of remuneration for work and at the same time an incentive to take it. This show, in the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, is a reference to experimental therapy programs that are being attempted in Amsterdam (for alcohol dependence) and in Scandinavia and Switzerland (for drug users).
The strategy that the artist is employing in Nobody Is Afraid To Die could be read as supporting alcoholics in their alcoholism. It is possible that the first step to saving someone's life, is providing them with whatever they are dependent on in a controlled manner. Though perhaps this approach buttresses and habituates a person in their addiction, it does, modestly, give hope.
Surowiec’s attitude stems from the intention to get to know the excluded world, the problems that exist there and the relationships occurring within. The artist places the viewer, so to speak, inside a kind of social margin, on the periphery of humanity. It can clash with common-sense logic, nonetheless, it aspires to develop good and helpful strategies.
- Text
- Szymon Maliborski
