In Between The Worlds – The first ever suitcase exhibition
of polish paintings in iceland

“A rectangular case with a handle designed to hold a traveler’s clothing
and personal articles”

That’s all a dictionary would say about a suitcase. If we were to look
closely at this invention’s history, we would see a clear link between its
development and the rise of tourism and mass transit. Distant lands, once
available only to a few, are easily accessible to everyone today. A
suitcase opens the door to the wide world. A suitcase gives freedom. A
suitcase arouses curiosity. A suitcase is a tool to grasp a mystery
previously beyond reach.

A suitcase, however, enforces limits. How are we supposed to put all the
things we need for travel in one small box? We need to radically cut out
everything that is not necessary. To choose a minimalist lifestyle, if only
for the length of the journey. To plan, to anticipate, to think through.
Now, suddenly, all the things created to make our life easier become an
unnecessary burden.

And what if one were to pack an exhibition into a suitcase? This was the
question Marek Sapetto posed in the 1980s, facing the difficult political
situation in his country. He organised a series of miniature exhibitions in
private studios and apartments, bypassing the structural constraints of
official state galleries. He transformed the suitcase into a symbol of
freedom of speech, independence and swift, precise action.

Following the example of Marek Sapetto, a former professor at the Academy
of Fine Arts in Warsaw, a group of artists affiliated with the school
decides to treat the suitcase as both an opportunity and a challenge.
Despite the radically different political and social context, the need to
seek new paths to reach the audience remains relevant. The small formats of
the works enforce a shift in visual thinking towards precise messages. They
allow us to overcome logistical difficulties, to reach distant locations,
to intensify cultural dialogue. The suitcase now becomes a tool for
bypassing the slow institutional procedures and turns exhausting
preparations into a spontaneous adventure.

We hope that these works will briefly and precisely, in a few “visual
words”, present the nature of the work of participating artists and,
through them – a glimpse of the rich and diverse heritage of the Academy of
Fine Arts in Warsaw.

Artists:
Wojciech Adam Bański
Katarzyna Dyjewska
Anna Jankowicz
Łukasz Jankowicz
Marcin Jurkiewicz
Przemysław Klimek
Marcin Kozłowski
Marcin Kozłowski jr
Grzegorz Mroczkowski
Alina Picazio
Sylwester Piędziejewski
Paweł Pogorzelski
Igor Przybylski
Jacek Staszewski
Piotr Wachowski
Artur Winiarski

Curated by:
Magdalena Maria Urbanek-Banska
Wojciech Adam Bański
Marcin Kozłowski
Elvar Gunnarsson

There will be a special exhibition opening on Thursday, April 9th from
18:00-20:00 and you are welcome!

Other opening hours

Fri 10th Apr 16:00 – 20:00
Sat 11th Apr 13:00 – 17:00
Sun 12th Apr 14:00 – 17:00

LG // Litla Gallerý is sponsored by the Culture and Tourism Committee of
Hafnarfjörður for this event.