The social and political moods of the second half of the 1980s were a point of reference and inspiration for attempts to establish and find one’s place within the existing reality. The activities of Totart provided a sharp commentary on the atmosphere in the Polish People’s Republic at the time. Happenings in uniform constituted, according to their authors, a kind of mockery of the strategies promoted by the authorities, which aimed at unifying and uniforming all public services, such as the militia, fire brigades or forest guards.
The group’s activities were usually collective in nature, as evidenced by sztrajfy – the painted fabrics, collectively prepared by Totart members, often spontaneously during public performances.