A Look at Joanna Piotrowska's New Exhibit at ICA

Ponder the complex roles of humanity at the ICA’s new exhibit.Joanna Piotrowska’s “Untitled, 2014”

From Paris’ Centre Pompidou to the Tate Britain, Polish artist Joanna Piotrowska has captivated the art world with her ambiguous, intimate and theatrical works. The London and Porto-based artist’s performative acts, photography and film examine the human condition, exploring the concepts of power, gender and the unconscious. Lucky for Philadelphians, Piotrowska chose the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania (icaphila.org) for her first solo museum exhibition in the U.S. Here, curator Hallie Ringle unravels the uncanny of Joanna Piotrowska: unseeing eyes, restless bodies, open from July 13 to Dec. 1.

What was the inspiration for the exhibit?
The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to delve into her exploration of uncanny and intimate human behaviors through process-intensive works that bridge performance and photography.

The curator’s favorite piece, “Untitled, 2022”.

How does Piotrowska’s work examine the human condition?
Piotrowska’s work examines the human condition through large-scale photographs and videos that evoke themes of violence, control and self-protection and reveal the underlying tensions within these dynamics. Her works capture the care as well as uneasiness in complex familial and gendered relationships.

How do the works reveal moments of care and hierarchies of power?
Piotrowska’s distinctive approach involves combining and cropping images in ways that create ambiguity, compelling viewers to construct narratives in their minds. For instance, in “Untitled (2014)”, there is an image of a woman with a hand over her face. The twist lies in the fact that the hand belongs to a man, prompting us to question whether the gesture is soothing or aggressive. This ambiguity challenges us to contemplate who holds the power in the photograph and the nature of the interaction depicted.

Which piece in the exhibit do you love or connect with the most?
“Untitled (2022)” is such a powerful piece as it encapsulates many interconnecting themes within Piotrowska’s artistic practice. [In] the collage… two arms extend from the juncture where the images meet. In this surreal composition, one arm shushes a woman while the other rests on her chest, which is simultaneously clinical and incredibly personal.

What do you hope visitors take from the exhibit?
I hope visitors leave with a deep understanding of Piotrowska’s artistic practice and an appreciation for her distinctive work. On a deeper level, I’d be thrilled if audiences developed an appreciation for the subtle design choices in Piotrowska’s exhibition. Piotrowska created the exhibition layout, which includes small rooms within the gallery. The small details, like the size of the rooms, combined with Piotrowska’s distinctive framing and hangings, like placing a large piece in a compact area, contribute to a sense of the uncanny.