Wild 80s
Press Release
Tomasz Stańko about the exhibition:
"The exhibition is dedicated to the wild years of the 80s. It was a time of freedom, jazz and abandoning yourself. Wojtek Kukla was a colleague of Lakis (Anthimos Apostolis). In those days, we used to roam around Krakow, talk about art, exchange views, play and we really had a great time together. Wojtek very aptly illustrated those times with his series of photographs – truly personal and emotional; he was the chronicler of this wild period of my life. He also designed the cover of the album "Lady Go" and invented C.O.C. X - the name for my project that has multiple meanings. Photographs by Krzysztof Gierałtowski, Ryszard Horowitz and my friend Andrzej Tyszko complement the atmosphere of this exhibition”.
Krzysztof Gierałtowki:
"I photographed a magnificent jazz trumpeter Tomasz Stańko, 1942., in the mid-80s for the purpose of the PAGART poster. Apparently he enjoyed the poster because asked me for another photos.
If I could only stand it physically, I would have captured him from the air, suspended high above him, from the perspective of the sound flowing from the instrument”.
Ryszard Horowitz:
"Tomek Stańko is one of a small group of European jazz musicians accepted
by the US market. Here, it does not matter where he comes from but how he plays. And he
plays great. He achieved a remarkable success throughout the world. This only confirms his universal talent.
This photograph comes from one of many of Tomek’s performances, taken
approximately 10 years back in the famous Birdland New York jazz club”.
Wojciech Kukla:
"One day I went down to the basement. Walking along the corridor I was wondering where I could find the things I needed. I opened the door and turned on the light. My eyes saw a horrifying view. Cardboard boxes were standing in the water. Unfortunately, all crumbled to pieces. My worst fears come true. The entire contents of boxes: books, cans of films, rolls, film stocks, negatives were in a brown liquid. Arduous work of rescuing was started. In the course, I found numerous photograph, including some of Tomasz Stańko of the mid 80s. I saw them for the first time since their creation. Tomasz Stańko does not need publicity, but these few photographs allow us to see his character in another, more "human" dimension.
Andrzej Tyszko:
"I met and photographed Tomasz for the first time in 1982. Since then we have had countless individual sessions.
For me, each one was a new challenge. I always tried to make a unique image, different from the previous ones.
Tomasz is a very interesting and charming “object” and his understanding of the world and reality truly inspires.
I am proud and happy that Tomasz gave me his confidence and friendship which had and still has an impact on my work and life".
