Agnieszka Kalinowska

In Welcome, the artist addresses the hospitality of developed countries and how this concept has recently devalued. The title of the work is in English — a global language, or the language of globalization, which was meant to enable the understanding between cultures and countries. The dishonesty and inauthenticity of this hospitality has been exposed many times, most recently due to the ongoing refugee crisis. Deconstructing the meaning of the word welcome is literally translated into the deconstruction of the form. The distorted, corroded designate of hospitality reflects the completely distorted condition of this concept. The weed entangled in the structure appears like an unwanted guest among a farmer’s crops. On the other hand, ‘weed’ is a relative term, as depending on where it grows, it may or may not be a desired plant, or it may even become a protected plant. Similarly, the word welcome, depending on the political situation and time, may be a diplomatic refrain or an empty slogan facing visitors from other countries.

• Object type:
  sculpture (coloured paper string)
• Year:
  2010
• Dimensions:
  90 × 350 × 10 cm
• inv. no.:
  MNG/NOMUS/21/D
• Własność:
  Deposit of the City of Gdańsk, part of the Gdańsk Collection of Contemporary Art