30 September 2009

Counter logic helps bring Polish visual art to a Uk audience

The idea of a jigsaw puzzle lies behind a mysterious and innovative new exhibition of Polish and UK artists’ work taking place at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.

‘Counter Logic’ displays the work of seven artists, with all exhibits in some way relating to puzzles for the audience to ponder. Glasgow-based artist Anthony Schrag has created a lycra ocean over the gallery floor while Maciej Kurak has kept the exact details of his exhibit a closely guarded secret, leaving even gallery staff to wonder what’s in store for them.

The logic of puzzles apply to both the works and the show itself. Counter Logic presents artistic practice as a process of assembling, reassembling, matching, editing and composing new forms.

Maciej is one of six Polish artists contributing to the exhibition, taking place as part of POLSKA! YEAR which supports projects bringing Polish artists’ work to the UK. The other Polish artists exhibiting are Olaf Brzeski, Aneta Grzeszykowska, Tomasz Kozak, Anna Molska, and Janek Simon.

The exhibition has been co-curated by Duncan of Jordanstone, part of the University of Dundee, and Stach Szablowski of the Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw.

Jenny Brownrigg, from DJCAD’s Exhibitions department said Maciej Kurak’s insistence on deepening the sense of mystery surrounding Counter Logic has presented them with a few challenges.

She said, 'Pulling this show together has been a conundrum in itself but we are sure that the audience will enjoy the unusual experience that visiting this exhibition will bring.'

Co-curator Stach Szablowski said, 'This exhibition is meant to be a kind of jigsaw puzzle. In all the classic puzzles all elements must sooner or later find their place and ultimately fall into a harmonious picture, but I hope that this will not happen with Counter Logic.'

'There will be no happy ending to this exhibition, in which each work finds its place and freezes in the cold ice of curatorial conceptual logic. On the contrary, I see more potential in mismatch, in the awareness that neither art nor life, nor the exhibition can be arranged in a logical whole. The game is never finished - and that’s what makes the game interesting.'

A preview of Counter Logic takes place at the Cooper Gallery between 6-8pm on Friday, October 2nd. The free exhibition is also open between 9.30am and 5pm (Monday to Friday) and 10.30am - 4.30pm (Saturdays) on October 3rd - 31st.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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