Grzegorz Klaman is presenting his exhibition Flags for Europe May 19-June 18 at the Austrian Culture Forum in Warsaw.

Flags are the most important kinds of banners, emblems of states, nations and organizations. A flag is a composition of signs, colors, symbols, negotiated, historically agreed upon and sanctioned. It is an abstract plane formally organized so as to contain maximum identification with maximum simplicity. It is frequently an area that is closed to discussion, too easily exposed to aggression (flags are burnt, trampled and profaned), it unites communities, at the same time keeping them separate, different. Signs and emblems do not closely follow economic, social and cultural transformations. Their stability is a stability of authorities rather than of the societies and communities they represent.

"You can worship and defend your flag, it can cause discussions, exchanges and an overestimation of symbols. In this project, not seeing those mutual relations-resistance, fear, stereotypes-determines my form and my activity," said Klaman.

"You have to touch the flags I design, to read them through a 'marginal' Braille alphabet. Those who see them with their eyes can only see them as schemes, but the colors and full form will be imagined, it will be created in the mind." he continued.

The work entitled Europe consists of a Plexiglas container with 25 balls which correspond to countries of the European Union and candidate countries. In contrast to the "Braille" flags, the colors-and symbols-which cover the balls undergo a long process of abrasion, until the material that the balls are made of is exposed. The first presentation at the Austrian Culture Forum will start a process of collecting private, personal items and souvenirs from Europeans living in Poland. The items will then be processed and granulated, becoming the source material for balls representing the country of their origin. The project will also feature photo documentation. Placed in the Plexiglas box, the balls will be put into motion by an electric-pneumatic mechanism when viewers approach the object close enough to activate it with their presence.

Grzegorz Klaman-Flags for Europe. Opening May 19, 6 p.m. at the Austrian Gallery, Austrian Culture Forum, 8 Próżna St., Warsaw. Open through June 18, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
The artist is looking for people from EU and candidate countries who live in Poland and who would like to take part in the project Flags for Europe.

Contact: Austrian Gallery, tel. 620-96-20 or e-mail warschau-kf@bmaa.gv.at