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AWACS (art group), established in 1981 group of performance artists from Krakow (Poland): Peter Grzybowski i Maciej Toporowicz, active in the 80s. The artists were interested in crossing the boundaries and balancing on the edge, hence drastic means (like dripping blood, shattering glass, killing animals on stage, using electric wires or świec dymnych). In the beginning they were under the influence of Vienna Actionists. One of the most spectacular actions of the group was the intervention just before Martial law in Poland has been imposed, during the opening of the exhibition of the documentation of the 1st part of the 9th Cracovian Meetings (Nov. 25th, 1981) in BWA Gallery in Krakow, whose curator was Maria Pinińska-Bereś. The artists, whose application to the Event was refused, went wrapped in black bandage from Dietla St. to the BWA Gallery in Krakow with their bodyguards: Jarosław Godfrejow and Łukasz Jogałła dressed in American army uniforms. During the official opening of the exhibition by Pinińska-Bereś, the artists gave her a black (painted) rose (Pinińska-Bereś earlier did a performance "Sadzenie różu", in which she planted a rose in front of the Gallery). Their other action ("Awacs"), that took place in Pod Ręką Club in Krakow on May 23rd, 1981 was reviewed in a prestige American magazine High Performance.

Occasionally Łukasz Jogałła (now in the USA) co-operated with the group. During the Martial law in 1982, the group organized illegal performance art event in a private studio of Peter Grzybowski at 50 Dietla St. 10. The participants included: Jarosław Godfrejow (now in France), Anna Grzybowska, Piotr Grzybowski and Maciej Toporowicz.

The group continued its activity after its founder emmigrated to Germany and then to USA. It finished the activity in mid-80s, but the artists continued to be active individually.

Most important performances:

* 1981 Klub Pod Ręką, Kraków. * 1981 Private Studio, Kraków. * 1981 9th Cracovian Meetings, Galeria BWA Kraków. * 1982 Kuków near Krakow (performance w plenerze). * 1982 Awacs Performance Event, Kraków. * 1983 Klub Pod Jaszczurami, Kraków. * 1983 Galeria Strych, Łódź. * 1983 Galeria AT, Poznań. * 1983 Art Now Gallery, Mannheim. * 1983 Q16 Gallery, Goldenen Anker, Pforzheim[4]. * 1986 CUANDO Center, Nowy Jork.

See also

* Historia polskiego performance

Footnotes

1. ↑ Katalog Wystawy Spotkania Krakowskie IX (1981) / X Wolne Miasto Kraków (1995), ed. J. Hanusek, Krakow 1995, s. 42-43. 2. ↑ High Performance, vol. 17/18 (5:1), Spring / Summer 1982, s. 57. Indeks High Performance 3. ↑ Strona Galerii AT  4. ↑ Pforzheimer Zeitung 12/7/83.