Joanna Pawlik Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1974 -

In putting the project together, Joanna Pawlik brought in several individuals who have experienced amputations: athletes Katarzyna Rogowiec (double Paralympics champion in Turin), Ewa Zielinska and other women who have experienced amputation.

An important element of this presentation is the relationship built upon several encounters between the artist and the women, as well as their attitude towards their disability. Joanna Pawlik's videos, which can be seen at the exhibition, represent their ways of coping with situations in public, the behaviour of other individuals towards female amputees - in general the effort to maintain balance both physically, mentally and socially after the loss of a limb. At the same time, they are full of positive emotions. Pawlik presents her heroines with sensitivity and empathy. Watching her videos, one may experience the virtuosity of everyday life, focus on details and activities usually trivial to us or which we take for granted, such as eating, jogging, or dancing.

The exhibition "Balance" is part of a year-long ongoing project entitled "The Economy of loss - Joanna Pawlik and Elin Drougge", organised by the Art Bunker Gallery, together with Grünerløkka Lufthavn. This year's research and art project consists of three planes: exhibitions, educational programs and publications, a research documentation provided by the Polish and Norwegian artists Joanna Pawlik and Elin Drougge respectively. Thanks to the work of both experienced artists (one affected by disability at the age of ten, the second exploring the implications of this phenomenon) this project makes room for dialogue, exchange of experience and aesthetics, whilst attempting to stir a related discussion about the pain, rejection, and the strength one can build in times of loss.

A disability is not only a major challenge for each and every individual, but also a challenge for the aesthetics of the art world, which for centuries was based on the concept of harmony as beauty. The history of art includes a narrative of striving for excellence with images of bodies, flawless, perfect and proportionate - this exhibition pushes the boundaries of those limits.

Joanna Pawlik (b. 1974) graduated from the Department of Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. She has won prizes, awards and scholarships, including: the Lexmark European Award 2003, an award at the 37th Bielsko Autumn Biennale in 2005, first prize at the Biennale of Young Art Fish-Eye 5 in 2008 and the Polish Henkel Art Award finals in 2009. She lives and works in Kraków.