Jerzy Bereś (14 September 1930 – 25 December 2012) was a Polish sculptor, author and

performance art Performance art is an artwork or art exhibition created through actions executed by the artist or other participants. It may be witnessed live or through documentation, spontaneously developed or written, and is traditionally presented to a pu ...

ist.

Life

Bereś was born on 14 September 1930 in

Nowy Sącz Nowy Sącz (; ; ; ; ) is a city in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship of southern Poland. It is the district capital of Nowy Sącz County as a separate administrative unit. With a population of 83,116 as of 2021, it is the largest city in the Beskid S ...

. He died on 25 December 2012 in

Kraków , officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...

Creativity

In his work he used artistic manifestations. His works and projects are often political and ethical statements, preaching the demand of the "creative act" on the subject. Jerzy Bereś developed his own unique style, but his practices were related:

happening A happening is a performance, event, or situation art, usually as performance art. The term was first used by Allan Kaprow in 1959 to describe a range of art-related events. History Origins Allan Kaprow first coined the term "happening" i ...

and these

performance A performance is an act or process of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function. Performance has evolved glo ...

, although I never admit to any relationship with these trends in the arts demonstrations, calling their actions (actions, " Masses "). Beres' Art is an art symbol, a metaphor, and a metaphysics. His art is the result of a dispute with known artist of the twentieth century such as the dramatists Witkiewicz, Kantor and conceptual artist,

Duchamp Henri-Robert-Marcel Duchamp (, ; ; 28 July 1887 – 2 October 1968) was a French painter, sculptor, chess player, and writer whose work is associated with Cubism, Dada, Futurism and conceptual art. He is commonly regarded, along with Pablo Pica ...

Artistic activity

In 1956, he completed a program in sculpture in the

Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts The Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków (, usually abbreviated to ''ASP''), is a public higher education, institution of higher education located in the centre of Kraków, Poland. It is the oldest Polish fine art academy, established in 1 ...

Xawery Dunikowski Xawery Dunikowski (; 24 December 1875 – 26 January 1964) was a Polish sculptor and artist, notable for surviving Auschwitz concentration camp, and best known for his Neo-Romantic sculptures and Auschwitz-inspired art. Biography Dunikowski wa ...

. His first solo exhibition was in 1958 in the Kraków House of Artists, where he presented the sculptures: 'Lullaby', 'The Sun', 'Mother', 'Eve', 'anxiety', 'Idyll' made of plaster and reinforced concrete. His experience at this exhibition influenced his decision to halt the work he had been doing up to this point and along with it the traditional methods he learned from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. Just before 1960, he created his first sculptures of wood:'Rzepicha' and 'Bart'. However, these were very realistic renderings that led the artist to turn to minimalism. Since then, his sculptures in wood have become increasingly simple and stay as close as possible to the nature of the material used. In 1960 he created work out of natural materials in the series'' hallucinations'' and ine 1967 in the series'' The Oracle''. He used field stones, hemp rope, scraps of canvas bag, leather straps (the characteristic of materials for his work). In 1968, Beres presented in Foksal Gallery in Warsaw first artistic manifestation of prophecy 'I'. It opens up a whole series of speeches that are a commentary on politics, religion, art and philosophy, in which the artist often uses his own body and the object. His work called "Masses" discusses the most important Polish problems; the '' Mass Romantic'',the ''political Mass'', and the ''Mass in Polish.''

Selected performances

*1968 -'' Prophecy'', Gallery Foksal,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

*1968 -'' The Prophecy II'', Gallery Krzysztofory,

*1968 -'' Bread'', painted black, Gallery Krzysztofory, Kraków *1972 -'' bread'' colorfully painted, Office Andrzej Partum Poetry,

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

*1972 - Transfiguration'' and'' Art Center,

Södertälje Södertälje ( , ) is a Urban areas in Sweden, city in Stockholm County, Sweden and seat of Södertälje Municipality. It is also a part of Stockholm urban area, Greater Stockholm Metropolitan Area. As of 2020, it has 73,872 inhabitants. Södert� ...

*1973 -'' Transfiguration II'', Gallery Desa, Kraków *1973 -'' Transfiguration III Fri Altar author'', BWA,

Lublin Lublin is List of cities and towns in Poland, the ninth-largest city in Poland and the second-largest city of historical Lesser Poland. It is the capital and the centre of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 336,339 (December 2021). Lublin i ...

*1973 - Untitled, Contemporary Gallery, Warsaw *1973 -'' Bid'', Gallery Pi, Kraków *1974 -'' wooden'' pathway, Gruga Park,

Essen Essen () is the central and, after Dortmund, second-largest city of the Ruhr, the largest urban area in Germany. Its population of makes it the fourth-largest city of North Rhine-Westphalia after Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund, as well as ...

*1974 -'' a beautiful altar, the altar clean'', BWA,

Wrocław Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...

*1974 -'' Face'' The Altar, Studio Gallery, London *1975 -'' reflective'' Mass, the Metal Works. Szadkowski, Kraków *1975 - The Altar'' erotic'' Coffee Club Artists, Kraków *1975 - The Altar'' laughing'' MDK Art Gallery of Labyrinth, Lublin *1975 - Round'' honor'', Runek Old Town, Zamosc *1976 -'' Bonfire of art'', BWA,

Koszalin Koszalin (; ; , ) is a city in northwestern Poland, in Western Pomerania. It is located south of the Baltic Sea coast, and intersected by the river Dzierżęcinka. Koszalin is also a county-status city and capital of Koszalin County of West Pomera ...

*1976 -'' Altar sculpture'', BWA, Kraków *1976 - The Rite'' sincerity'', Gallery On The Floor boat *1976 -'' existential'' Ritual, Culture, Lublin *1976 -'' Altar of time'', Castle

Świdwin Świdwin (; ) is a town in West Pomeranian Voivodeship of northwestern Poland. It is the capital of Świdwin County, and the administrative seat - though not part - of the Gmina Świdwin. Świdwin is situated in the historic Pomerania region on t ...

*1976 - The Rite'' philosophical'', student club,

Toruń Toruń is a city on the Vistula River in north-central Poland and a World Heritage Sites of Poland, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its population was 196,935 as of December 2021. Previously, it was the capital of the Toruń Voivodeship (1975–199 ...

*1977 -'' culture'' ritual, Riviera Club Student Repair, London *1977 -'' Life's Work'', STU Theatre Gallery, Kraków *1977 -'' art'' Mass, Club Jaszczury, Kraków *1978 -'' artist'' Monument, the way of Warcino and

Kępice Kępice (, or ''Hômer''; ) is a town and seat of Gmina Kępice in Słupsk County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, northern Poland. It has 3,646 inhabitants and is in size. History During World War II, the Germans operated two forced labour subcamps o ...

*1978 -'' Philosopher's Stone'',

Gallery Labyrinth Gallery or The Gallery may refer to: * Gallery (surname), a surname Arts, entertainment, and media * Art gallery ** Contemporary art gallery ** Online art gallery Music * Gallery (band), an American soft rock band of the 1970s Albums * ' ...

, Lublin *1978 -'' Mass Art'', Gallery Encouragement, London *1978 -'' Mass Romantic'', Gallery Krzysztofory, Kraków *1979 -'' philosophical'' Mass, Gallery Art-Forum, boat *1979 -'' author'' Mass, Gallery of Modern Art, "HOUSE", Wrocław *1979 -'' avant-garde'' Mass, National Outdoor Young Artists and theorists, Świeszyno *1979 -'' Work and Word'' Haus van Kapel Bewaring

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...

*1979 -'' Mystery'', Midland Group Gallery,

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...

, the Academy Gallery in

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

, Cotes Watermill in

Loughborough Loughborough ( ) is a market town in the Charnwood (borough), Charnwood Borough of Leicestershire, England; it is the administrative centre of Charnwood Borough Council. At the United Kingdom 2021 census, the town's built-up area had a popula ...

, Fine Art Dept. University of Technology,

Wolverhampton Wolverhampton ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands of England. Located around 12 miles (20 km) north of Birmingham, it forms the northwestern part of the West Midlands conurbation, with the towns of ...

, Chapter Arts Centre in

Cardiff Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...

, Kennington Oval House in London *1979 -'' Opus'', College of Higher Education in

Hull Hull may refer to: Structures * The hull of an armored fighting vehicle, housing the chassis * Fuselage, of an aircraft * Hull (botany), the outer covering of seeds * Hull (watercraft), the body or frame of a sea-going craft * Submarine hull Ma ...

, Gallery Third Eye Center,

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

*1980 -'' dialogue'' with Ignacy Witkiewicz, Polish Artists Union Gallery "Prism", Kraków *1980 -'' political'' Mass, National Outdoor Young Artists and theorists, Świeszyno *1981 -'' Clean work'', Gallery Krzysztofory, Kraków *1981 -'' freedom'' Barrows Meetings International Artists, Scientists and theoreticians of art, Osieki *1981 -'' dialogue'' with Marcel Duchamp, Gallery BWA, Lublin *1981 - Manifestation'' romantic'', the main square, Kraków *1981 -'' image'', Academy of Music, Kraków *1983 -'' Art and Reality'', Gallery BWA, Lublin *1983 -'' Mass Reflection II'', Gallery Krzysztofory, Kraków *1984 -'' Polish Mass'' Over the Moat Gallery, Wrocław *1984 -'' Lecture: The dispute over the value of the highest. And part of the'' Gallery BWA, Lublin *1985 -'' Five outbreaks of'' Church. Divine Mercy, London *1986 -'' Lecture: The dispute over the value of the highest. II'', Gallery BWA, Lublin *1986 -'' Picture Polish'', Gallery Dziekanka, Warsaw *1988 -'' The Prophecy II'', Gallery Krzysztofory, Kraków *1988 -'' II dialogue with Marcel Duchamp'', Modern Art Oxford,

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

*1988 -'' image of the Polish'', Slaughterhouse Gallery, London *1989 -'' the second presentation of the living monument. The Prophecy II'' University Gallery,

Cieszyn Cieszyn ( , ; ; ) is a border town in southern Poland on the east bank of the Olza River, and the administrative seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship. The town has 33,500 inhabitants ( and lies opposite Český Těšín in the Czech Repu ...

*1989 -'' shame'', CRP,

Orońsko Orońsko is a village in Szydłowiec County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Orońsko. It lies approximately north-east of Szydłowiec and south of Warsaw Wa ...

*1990 - Untitled, Gallery BWA,

Green Mountain Green Mountain is a common name for "The Peak", the highest point and a stratovolcano on Ascension Island, which has gained some fame for claims that it is one of very few large-scale artificial forests. Green Mountain is ranked 38th by topograp ...

*1990 -'' III dispute with Marcel Duchamp'' CCA, London *1991 -'' Dispute with Ignacy Witkiewicz'' BWA,

*1991 -'' IV dispute with Marcel Duchamp'', Museum Bochum - Kunstsammlung,

Bochum Bochum (, ; ; ; ) is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia. With a population of 372,348 (April 2023), it is the sixth-largest city (after Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Essen and Duisburg) in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous German federa ...

*1991 -'' dialogue'' with Tadeusz Kantor, Gallery Krzysztofory, Kraków *1991 -'' Antyperformance'' Action Arts Center, Warsaw *1993 -'' Polish Erotic'',

National Museum A national museum can be a museum maintained and funded by a national government. In many countries it denotes a museum run by the central government, while other museums are run by regional or local governments. In the United States, most nati ...

, London *1993 -'' Presentation of the living monument. The Prophecy II'', BWA, Wrocław *1994 -'' The Challenge'', Gallery Encouragement, London *1994 -'' Challenge II'', Gallery BWA, Lublin *1995 -'' Monument Vivant'', Gallery Le Lieu,

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

*1995 -'' The last dispute with Marcel Duchamp'', Gallery Language Plus,

Alma Alma or ALMA may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Alma'' (film), a 2009 Spanish short animated film * ''Alma'', an upcoming film by Sally Potter * ''Alma'' (Oswald de Andrade novel), 1922 * ''Alma'' (Le Clézio novel), 2017 * ''Alma'' ( ...

*1997 -'' Duel Challenge IV of Utopia'', Gallery Manhattan, boat *1999 -'' Scream'', Museum of Sandomierz, Castle,

Sandomierz Sandomierz (pronounced: ; , ) is a historic town in south-eastern Poland with 23,863 inhabitants (), situated on the Vistula River near its confluence with the San, in the Sandomierz Basin. It has been part of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (Holy ...

*2012 -'' Toast II'', Contexts. II Ephemeral Art Festival,

Sokołowsko Sokołowsko is a village and traditional climatic health resort in Gmina Mieroszów, within Wałbrzych County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It lies approximately north-east of Mieroszów, south of Wałbrzych, and so ...

Outdoor projects

*Wladyslaw Jagiello monument in

Nidzica Nidzica (; formerly ; ; ) is a town in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship of Poland, lying between Olsztyn and Mława, in Masuria. The capital of Nidzica County, its population in 2017 was 13,872. History The settlement was originally founded by O ...

*Altar of St. Families in the Church of Our Lady of Fatima in

Tarnów Tarnów () is a city in southeastern Poland with 105,922 inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of 269,000 inhabitants. The city is situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east– ...

*Rondo sculpture'' 1'' in front of the Opera in

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz is a city in northern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Kuyavia. Straddling the confluence of the Vistula River and its bank (geography), left-bank tributary, the Brda (river), Brda, the strategic location of Byd ...

Bibliography

*George Beres,'' hallucinations, oracles, altars, challenges occur'' category.

National Museum in Poznan National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

National Museum in Kraków The National Museum in Kraków (), popularly abbreviated as MNK, is the largest museum in Poland, and the main branch of Poland's National Museum, which has several independent branches with permanent collections around the country. Established in ...

, Poznań and Kraków, 1995, *George Beres,'' Art'' bending force, angle occur.

Contemporary Art Contemporary art is a term used to describe the art of today, generally referring to art produced from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a ...

, Kraków 2007 *'' Avant-garde in the open air: Osieki and Lazy 1963–1981. Poland awngarda the second half of the twentieth century in the collection of the Museum in Koszalin.'', Ed. Museum in Koszalin, Koszalin 2008,

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beres, Jerzy 1930 births 2012 deaths People from Nowy Sącz Polish sculptors Polish male sculptors Polish contemporary artists Polish performance artists