Viktor Witkowski
My paintings and films address the representation of history––domestic as well as global conflicts and the impact these have on the individual. At the same time, I ask what the possibilities of painting and film are in the face of unsettling yet socially relevant topics. Is there a space for poetics when dealing with the darker issues in life?
My work is driven by a deeply personal agenda: after martial law had been lifted in Poland in 1983, my parents decided to flee to what used to be West Germany in order to escape uncertainty and oppression. Ultimately, my work shows that politics and history are anything but theoretical constructs. On the contrary, these conditions affect people’s minds, hearts, and everyday lives.