Born in Szczecin. Visual artist, performer, author of video works and installations. She received the title of doctor habilitated at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, doctor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Wroclaw. A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow - doctoral studies, and the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk - master's degree (the diploma was awarded during the nationwide exhibition of the best diplomas of the Academy of Fine Arts). She also studied at Istanbul Marmara Universitesi 2008-2009.

Laureate:

Awards of the City of Gdańsk for Young Artists in the Field of Culture, the International Video Festival "Now & After" in Moscow in Russia, and the Biennale of Art in Piotrków Trybunalski.

She participated in many exhibitions, festivals and art reviews:

in Belarus in Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Germany, Norway, Russia, Romania, Serbia, the United States, Scotland, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey and Italy.

In Poland, her works have been presented, among others in:

MOCAK in Krakow, Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw, Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, University of Gdańsk in Gdańsk, Center for Contemporary Art in Gdańsk, BWA in Zielona Góra, Center for Contemporary Art in Toruń, Gallery Labirynt in Lublin, MS2 in Łódź , Museum of Cinematography in Łódź, PGS in Sopot or the Polish Sculpture Center in Orońsko.

More important events: zz

Individual exhibition "Synthesis" Centro Cultural Casa Talavera, Mexico City, Mexico, exhibition "Moscow Art Communities" Museum of Moscow, Moscow, Russia, XIX International Video Festival "VIDEOMEDEJA" Museum of Contemporary Art, Novi Sad, Serbia, Project "Performance Voyage 4 "KnockDown Center, New York, United States, International Biennale of Young Art, MMOMA, Moscow, Russia, WRO Media Art Biennale, Wrocław, Biennale of Young Art" Fish Eye 8 "Baltic Gallery of Contemporary Art, Ustka

She also acts as a curator, sits on the jury of competitions, writes and publishes texts as well as conducts a series of workshops in Poland and abroad.

More about the artist: juliakurek.blogspot.com

Piece of a Lecture

Performance is a form of the art language that is closest to me. When I think about a problem which I want to explore through a chosen form of art, it is usually performance I go for. Performance is a way of experiencing reality. I send a message - I receive an answer, examining at the same time the psychophysical condition both of the surrounding environment and myself. The experiencing is the processuality of events that are born through my more or less conscious gestures. It is difficult to describe something in process, which begins and ends at the same time. Usually, objects and images (either technical or digital) emerging in front of one's eyes narrow the scope of contemplation. Performance offers the opportunity to literally enter the creative process through interaction. The turning point in the course of a performance is often the viewer who becomes the interactor. Their sensitivity, observations, interactive statements can influence an action and change its form. This specific form of the contact between the interactor and myself is particularly valuable to me. Their interpretation, taking the form of an action, participation, is fundamental to me. My interests in this area revolve around confrontation among the viewer, the surroundings and myself. This confrontation is often expressed as interaction which can lead to interesting formal and semantic solutions. When the viewer and the performer share conceptual schemes, there is a chance of creating a coherent message with the performer's original idea. On the other hand, the lack of a common conceptual scheme often contributes to the creation of new solutions. The audience frequently reacts very emotionally to my actions and their emotions can be expressed as interaction. In such a way I can get to know their sensitivity and modes of perception which are different from mine. Analysing these situations I learn through understanding other ways of thinking. I draw conclusions and design further actions. These performative confrontations are both the source of self-knowledge and knowledge of the other. During a performance I use my own body constructing the sense of my statement by means of gestures. In such a way I give meaning to my action. I aim at an open form so that the audience can engage in my performance. Their reactions are essential to me as they frequently complete my action. They constitute a challenge I must respond to if I want to enter into dialogue with them. Often they become an inspiration when I create another work. These mutual interpretations of expressed intentions or emotions conveyed by means of gestures provoke me to commune with the other.

Photos thanks to the courtesy of the artist.

Born in Szczecin. Visual artist, performer, author of video works and installations. She obtained the title of habilitated doctor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, and a doctor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław. A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow - doctoral studies, and the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk - MA studies (the diploma was awarded during the Polish exhibition of the Best Academy of Fine Arts diplomas). She also studied at Istanbul Marmara Universitesi 2008-2009.

Laureate:

Awards of the City of Gdańsk for Young Artists in the Field of Culture, International Video Art Festival "Now & After" in Moscow, Russia, 1st Art Biennale in Piotrków Trybunalski.

She has taken part in many exhibitions, festivals and art reviews:

in Belarus, Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Germany, Norway, Russia, Romania, Serbia, the United States, Scotland, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Italy.

In Poland, her works have been presented, among others. in:

MOCAK in Kraków, Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw, Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, TIC in Gdańsk, Center for Contemporary Art in Gdańsk, BWA in Zielona Góra, Center for Contemporary Art in Toruń, Galeria Labirynt in Lublin, MS2 in Łódź, Museum of Cinematography in Łódź, PGS in Sopot or the Center of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko.

Major events:

Individual exhibition "Synthesis" Centro Cultural Casa Talavera, Mexico City, Mexico, exhibition "Moscow Art Communites" Moscow Museum, Moscow, Russia, 19th International Video Festival "VIDEOMEDEJA" Museum of Contemporary Art, Novi Sad, Serbia, Project "Performance Voyage 4" KnockDown Center, New York, United States, International Biennale of Young Art, MMOMA, Moscow, Russia, WRO Media Art Biennale, Wrocław, Biennale of Young Art "Rybie Oko 8", Baltic Gallery of Contemporary Art, Ustka

He also acts as a curator, sits on the jury of competitions, writes and publishes texts, and conducts a number of workshops in Poland and abroad.

More about the artist: juliakurek.blogspot.com

Fragment of the Self-presentation

Performance is the form of communication that functions most closely to me in the area of the language of art. When I start to think about a problem that I want to tackle through the form of artistic expression, that thought usually takes the shape of a performance activity. Performance is one way of experiencing reality. I send a message - I get a reply, thus checking the psychophysical condition of me and my surroundings. This experience is a processuality of events that are created in more or less consciously performed gestures. It is difficult to describe something that happens in the process, something that begins and ends simultaneously. Usually, objects and pictures (technical or digital) that appear to our eyes narrow the reception to contemplation. The performance gives the opportunity, through interaction, to literally enter the creative process. The point of change in the course of action in a performance is often the viewer who becomes the interactor. His sensitivity, perceptions, and interactive statements can influence the action and change the form. I especially appreciate this specific kind of contact between me and the interactor. Its interpretation, taking the form of active action and participation, is crucial for me. My interests in this area revolve around the confrontation that takes place between me, the viewer and the environment. This confrontation often results in an interaction that can lead to interesting formal and semantic solutions. When the viewer and the performer have related conceptual schemas, there is a chance to create a message consistent with the performer's original idea. On the other hand, the lack of a common scheme often becomes a creative factor leading to new solutions. Recipients often react very emotionally to my actions. Interaction is a manifestation of their emotions. This way I get to know their sensitivity and perceptions that are different from mine. By analyzing these situations, I learn from a different way of thinking. I draw conclusions and formulate further actions. These performative confrontations are for me a source of getting to know myself and the other person. In my performance, I use my own body to build meaning through gestures. Thus I give meaning to the action. I try to create an open form so that the viewers can get involved in my performance. Their reactions are important to me, because they often complete it. They are a challenge to which I have to respond in order to enter into a dialogue with them. They also often become an inspiration when creating new outfits. These mutual interpretations of expressed intentions or emotions, transmitted through gestures, provoke me to associate with another person.

Photos courtesy of the artist.