"Mannequin" by Jacek Wildman. Poster exhibition at the Forum Hall in Krakow
July 28, 2024
Jacek Wildman's "Mannequin" exhibition is the first solo exhibition by the artist, whose art explores a soulless world devoid of principles and morality. Running from August 1, 2024, at the Forum Hall in Krakow (formerly the Forum Hotel) at 28 Marii Konopnicka Street, the temporary exhibition offers an escape from overwhelming information and points to an alternative path worth pursuing in order to discover oneself. The Forum Hall in Krakow invites you to explore a world where mannequins and masks have taken the role of narrator.
On August 1, 2024, the Forum Hall at 28 Marii Konopnicka Street in Krakow will host the opening of an exhibition of Jacek Wildman's poster, "Mannequin." Krakow's most fashionable meeting place will showcase posters and paintings depicting masks and mannequins. Associated with ancient theater and used in magical rituals and ceremonies, masks protected the body, served as disguises, and were useful in the theater. Used in performances, festivals, and balls, masks provided entertainment and good times. Some symbolized nightmares and apparitions. Negative connotations of masks were associated with appearance, emphasizing sadness, pain, and misunderstanding; mascara-like figures found everywhere embodied brutalism, power, and physical violence. Masks and mannequins—the objects used by Jack Wildman in his latest "Mannequin" collection—are fitting for Krakow's Brutalist-style Forum Hall. They represent the changes we, as humans, must face. A boundary that must be crossed to feel free.
Posters from the "Mannequin" collection are a barometer of change. They offer suggestions on how to navigate a world without rules
The "Mannequin" collection is a manifesto about people in the modern world, the decline of humanity and callousness. It emphasizes that what matters is appearance, what's on the outside. In a world devoid of principles, we've lost our way, forgetting about morality, values, and the traits that define us as human beings. We focus most of our attention on appearances, performances, and masks, which disappoint, allow us to lie, and make us appear to be someone else. In reality, we are soulless, empty, and indifferent mannequins. We adapt to our surroundings, pretending to be someone we are not. Although some masks look better than faces, they are an illusion, a calculation, a game in which people – regardless of their beliefs – lose. The belief that clothing and appearance define identity is, however, superficial. By blocking out emotions and impressions, we become cold manipulators for whom social status, origin, race, and skin color are irrelevant. As Edward Stachura wrote in the poem "Life is not a theater":
“Life is a theater, you talk all the time, you tell stories;
The masks put on are increasingly different and misleading;
It's all fun, it's all one game
With doors open and closed.
This is a game"
Jack Wildman's latest collection, "Mannequin," is inspired by tailoring mannequins. Mannequins upholstered in precious fabrics are the exhibition's most important protagonists, which the artist draws upon with conviction and faith in the magical power of art. It is this power that leads Jack Wildman to a world where imagination plays a crucial role, thanks to which the world, driven by technological advancement and an overload of information, ceases to be a frightening, terrifying place. For Jack Wildman, art is a journey into the self, offering hope and emphasizing that a world without rules can be changed.
"Mannequin" Exhibition at the Forum Hall in Krakow. A World of Magic and Fantasy According to Jacek Wildman
Jack Wildman is the pseudonym of an artist who searches for contemporary references in ancient art. In his multifaceted posters and paintings, he searches for truth, analyzes the problems facing humanity, and strives to prove that art is a remedy. Jack Wildman's posters and paintings abound with symbols familiar from works by Hieronymus Bosch, among others. Their ambiguity shocks and inspires courage. It irritates and evokes emotions. It makes the strange and untamed become sincere. It fights and demands attention. It exists where appearances and creation cease to matter. Jack Wildman's posters and paintings can be controversial collages, and imagination plays a crucial role in them. It leads the artist to a space where extraordinary things happen. To understand art, one must experience it with all of one's senses, separating what is real from what is artificial, what is bland from what is perfect. They are connected to fantasy, goodness, and beauty – enduring values that we have been searching for for centuries. Their presence gives us the feeling that in a world without morality and rules we can save ourselves, tame ourselves, change ourselves and make the world a better place.
Posters and paintings from Jack Wildman's "Mannequin" collection in interiors
Jack Wildman introduces posters and paintings to interiors. The artist's art is suitable for a variety of spaces. Posters from the "Mannequin" collection are suitable for minimalist, industrial, and loft-style interiors. They will look great in homes, commercial spaces, open spaces, and anywhere spaces require striking accents. Colorful, contrasting mannequins will add character, freshness, and uniqueness to any interior. The Jack Wildman studio collaborates with showrooms, decorators, and interior designers, creating designer posters and paintings with the latest interiors and current trends in mind. Most are custom-made in a variety of styles and formats, for dedicated (personalized) interiors.
For more information about Jack Wildman Studio, please visit jackwildman.com
Date: Start at 4:00 p.m. from August 1st to August 31st, 2024
FREE ADMISSION
Location: Forum Hall, Krakow, M. Konopnicka Street 28
Organizer: Hala Forum, Jack Wildman Studio
