Cordial atmosphere (Relay)

The work from the series 'Speakers' belongs to the cycle 'March'68' created by Zbylut Grzywacz in April 1968. 'Speakers' were a reaction to the televised speeches of the then First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party Władysław Gomółka and the Polish Prime Minister Józef Cyrankiewicz. Making a reference to tear gases used for dispelling student gatherings, the artist presented the 'Speakers' as figures with gas masks on their faces; thus, he suggests that neither they can hear anything nor can the words they speak be heard. He shows them as self-isolating from the society and speaking to themselves. In 'Cordial Atmosphere', Grzywacz depicts Władysław Gomułka, whom he calls Father William, applauding himself, devoid of the unnecessary brain skull, a man of power, qualityless and empty inside..

JO