ryszard waśko—sculptures of black paint

the manifesto-like text "time sculptures of black paint" (1986) by ryszard wasko is one example for the self-organized exhibition and publication practices of łódź' and warsaw's art scene in the 1980s. artist run exhibitions, symposia and discussions were organized "open air" and in private apartments. the production and distribution of publications like "luxus", "fabryka" or "tango" and the artists's writings itself were part of a self-determined system described by wasko as "alive sculptures."

view from "network as sowing" an exhibition of 'moral posters' by maria waśko in a private apartment with discussion in łódź, 1982. (center: ryszard waśko)

my sculptures are not about construction of time and space. my sculptures are not about construction of black. my sculptures are about confinement of black

ryszard waśko, 1986

"time sculptures of black paint"

what are my sculptures about and what they are not about – some answers by ryszard waśko

the material i work with is black (all other materials are supplementary)

i define black as follows:

black is absolute
black is man's energy
black is motion

absolute is unity itself, therefore my sculptures are not about unity.

every existence moves in different times and spaces.

black exists in different times and spaces.

my sculptures are about time and space.

every existence moves in time and space.

every existence moves in different times and spaces.

black exists in different times and spaces.

time is indivisible from space.

space is indivisible from time.

time limits space.

space limits time.

my sculptures are about the limitation of time and space of black.

my sculptures are not about construction of time and space.

my sculptures are not about construction of black.

my sculptures are about confinement of black.

black is limited through intentions and decisions.

intentions and decisions are interrelated chains of events in time and space. now or later

here or there

backwards or forwards

along or across

my sculptures are about events in motion.

my sculptures are about motion in time and space.

every event exists between

between one time and another

between one space and another

between one segment and another

my sculptures are about the cutting of black.

black is the result of personal energy.

personal energy is two kinds of actions with black:

the localizatioon of blackthrough the so-called "extended energy" (black is flat)
the shaping of black through the so called "internal energy" (black is furrow)

my sculpures are about the concemntration of scattered energy

ryszard wasko, berlin, june 1986

("time sculptures of black paint," in "idee, raum, konstruktion – positionen polnischer kunst heute" (bielefeld: kunsthalle bielefeld, 1986), 24.)