Family
- type of object: video
- date: 2004
- material/technique: wideo
- dimensions: 9'15"
- inventory No.: V-15
- image licensed under: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
The film shows a family with two children discussing artistic matters while the children are engaged in various artistic tasks. Drawing and modelling with clay are typical childhood activities, but here the characters reproduce famous works of art, such as Kazimir Malevich’s Black Square, and they ask their parents to buy them Zbigniew Libera’s Lego Concentration Camp. The film’s soundtrack features Roman Opałka’s voice counting the days of his life.
The humorous effect is created by juxtaposing an ordinary family situation with the seriousness and uniqueness of the issues and problems raised by the family members. This reflects the long-held ambition of many artists and curators to merge contemporary art with everyday life, but it is presented in a, distorted mirror. The film also clearly outlines an ironic reflection on the state of the art market and the status of contemporary artists – the children dream of becoming video artists in the future, but their parents remind them that this won’t pay the bills and that only painting can ensure market success.