The exhibition ‘Mannequin’ by Jacek Wildman is the first solo exhibition by an artist whose art is about a soulless world devoid of principles and morals. Running from 01.08.2024 in the Forum Hall in Krakow (the former Forum Hotel) at 28 Marii Konopnickiej Street, the temporary exhibition is an escape from overwhelming information and points to an alternative path to follow in order to find oneself. The Forum Hall in Krakow invites you to experience a world in which mannequins and masks have taken over the role of narrator.

On 01.08.2024, the Forum Hall at ul. Marii Konopnickiej 28 in Krakow will host the opening of the poster exhibition ‘Mannequin’ by Jacek Wildman. The most fashionable meeting place in Krakow will present posters and paintings depicting masks and mannequins. Associated with the ancient theatre, used in magical rituals and ceremonies, masks protected the body, served as disguises and worked well in the theatre. Used in plays, festivals and balls, masks provided entertainment and fun. Some of them symbolised nightmares and ghosts. The negative connotations of masks were linked to their appearance; the masks, which emphasised sadness, pain and incomprehension and were found in every latitude, embodied brutality, force and physical violence. The masks and mannequins – the objects Jack Wildman reached for in his latest ‘Mannequin’ collection – are fitting for the Forum Hall in Krakow, built in the Brutalist style. They signify the changes that we humans have to face. A boundary that must be crossed in order to feel free.

The posters in the ‘Mannequin’ collection are a barometer of change. They suggest what to do to find yourself in a world without rules.

The ‘Mannequin’ collection is a manifesto that talks about people in the modern world, the disappearance of humanity and coarseness. It emphasises that what matters is creation, what’s on the outside. In a world devoid of principles, we have lost our way, forgotten the morals, values and qualities that define us as human beings. We are most concerned with poses, games and masks that disappoint, allow us to lie and make us into someone else. In reality, we are soulless, empty mannequins who pay no attention to the inside. We adapt to our surroundings, pretending to be someone we are not. Although some masks look better than faces they are an illusion, a calculation, a kind of game in which a person – whatever his or her beliefs – loses. The belief that dress and appearance define identity is, however, superficial. By denying emotions and impressions, we become cold manipulators for whom social status, origin, race and skin colour do not matter. As Edward Stachura wrote in his poem ‘Life is not theatre’:

“Life is theatre, you keep talking, telling;

Masks more and more different, more and more misleading you put on;

Everything is a game, everything is one game

With doors open and closed.

It’s a game”

Jack Wildman’s latest collection ‘Mannequin’ is the aftermath of his inspiration from tailor’s mannequins. Clad in fine fabrics, the mannequins are the most important protagonists of the exhibition, which the artist reaches for with conviction and belief in the magical power of art. It is art that leads Jacek Wildman to a world in which imagination plays an important role, thanks to which the world caused by the development of technology and the overload of information ceases to be a scary, frightening place. For Jack Wildman, art is a journey into himself, it gives hope and emphasises that a world devoid of rules can be changed.

The exhibition Mannequin in the Forum Hall in Krakow. A world of magic and fantasy by Jack Wildman

Jack Wildman is the pseudonym of an artist looking for references to the present day in ancient art. In his multidimensional posters and paintings, he searches for truth, analyses the problems faced by man and tries to prove that art is a remedy for problems. Jack Wildman’s posters and paintings abound in symbols known, among others, from the works of Hieronymus Bosch. Their ambiguity shocks and emboldens. It irritates and evokes emotions. It makes the bizarre and untamed sincere. It fights and clamours for attention. It is where the game of appearances and creation cease to matter. Jack Wildman’s posters and paintings are sometimes controversial collages; imagination plays an important role in them. It is the imagination that leads the artist into a space where extraordinary things happen. To understand art, you have to feel it with all your senses, to separate the real from the artificial. The bland from the perfect. Associated with fantasy, goodness and beauty – imperishable values that we have been seeking for centuries. Their presence gives us the feeling that in a world without morals and rules we can save ourselves, tame, change and make the world a better place.

Posters and paintings from Jack Wildman’s ‘Mannequin’ collection in interiors

Jack Wildman brings posters and paintings into interiors. The artist’s art will work well in different types of spaces. The posters from the ‘Mannequin’ collection suit minimalist, industrial and loft style interiors. They will look good in homes, premises, open spaces and wherever rooms require distinctive additions. The colourful mannequins, which stand out from the background, will add character, freshness and uniqueness to the interior. Studio Jack Wildman works with showrooms, decorators and interior designers. It creates designer posters and paintings with the trendiest interiors and current trends in mind. Most of them are created to order in a variety of styles and formats, for dedicated (personalised) interiors.

For more information about the Jack Wildman studio, please visit jackwildman.com

Deadline: Start at 4pm from 01.08 – 31.08 2024

FREE ENTRY

Venue: Hala Forum, Krakow, 28 M. Konopnickiej St.

Organiser: Hala Forum, Jack Wildman Studio