In Absolute Silence

1971. “Ziemia Zgorzelecka” national art symposium. Wroclaw artist Konrad Jarodzki grabs a few reels of cotton tape and heads for the nearby lignite strip mine. There he stretches a few kilometres of white material, in a wild attempt to harness, so to speak, the space surrounding him.

To this day the contrast between shabby-looking tape cutting through the air and the dominating, intimidating landscape presented on photos from that event is still striking. A fascinating manifestation of the frailty of actions of an individual clashing with nature and culture, but also a testament to the indomitableness of human aspirations in giving meaning to surrounding reality. A symbol of Konrad Jarodzki’s life and work, and perhaps man in general.