Zbigniew LIBERA (1959), Solidarity according to Chim; 2004

Photograph, pigment ink on cotton paper; 14 x 19 cm
ed. 27/30;
signed, inscribed on reverse: Zbigniew Libera/ 27/30

Photograph reproduced in catalog: Zbigniew LIBERA catalog works from 1982 -2008 (published: Zachęta National Gallery of Art)
Zbigniew LIBERA Fotografie (RASTER Warsaw 2012)
The photograph was included in the catalog: Zbigniew Libera photographs (published Raster Gallery)

From 1979 he studied at the Faculty of Pedagogy at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun. He discontinued these studies after a year and became associated with the environment of the Lodz "Strych". In the early 1980s, he began working with the "Solidarity" movement, for which he printed leaflets, and in 1981, after martial law was imposed, also leaflets and posters against the events at the Wujek mine. The artist was arrested by the Security Service and accused of printing the underground press. He served a year and a half in prisons (Lodz and Hrubieszow). This period is attributed to the decisive importance for the formation of Libera's creative personality. After his release from prison (amnesty), Zbigniew Libera began working with the Lodz-based Kultura Zrzuty, and co-founded the "Tango" magazine. Significant influence on the development of Libera's artistic language was exerted by Zofia Kulik (for whom he worked as a model in the 1980s), Jan Świdziński, Anastazy Wiśniewski and Andrzej Partum.
Zbigniew Libera is considered a precursor of critical art, so-called body art and queer aesthetics, which he introduced in the late 1980s in his photographic self-portraits. In his works, he analyzes and criticizes accepted conventions, mass culture, and traditional models of upbringing. He explores the relationship between the way children are raised and the generally accepted perception of corporeality, including creating macabre "toys." He touches on the manipulation of images by popular media. The main focus of his work, however, remains his own experience - a confrontation with reality. One of his better-known works is the project "Lego. Concentration Camp" he also created the series "Positives", "Masters", "Corrective Devices" and many others. He is also the author of films: "Intimate rites", "How to train girls", "Walser".