LOVE IS THE BEGINNING OF ALL TERROR. A performative lecture featuring Mariola Przyjemska

During the event, we will aim to shed light on the background and context of the latest painting series by Mariola Przyjemska. These works are based on photographic documentation created during the artist’s and the project curator’s stay in Paris in February 2024. The paintings depict festive Valentine’s-themed storefronts of luxury brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Cartier, and Louis Vuitton. Two paintings also portray spaces within La Galerie Dior—a private museum dedicated to one of the most iconic fashion designers of the 20th century. In the lecture, we will focus primarily on the critical context of the project, starting with its provocative titles that reference the history of the Holocaust and, more broadly, the intersections of capitalism, colonialism, and totalitarianism. We will also explore how Przyjemska’s work intertwines the private with the public. The lecture’s title references a film by feminist director Helke Sander, part of New German Cinema, which examines the connections between the myth of romantic love and actions with radical political undertones.

Led by: Ewa Opałka (curator) with the participation of Mariola Przyjemska (artist).