Krajobraz Polski. Wycinanki Alicji Białej
The Polish Landscape: Alicja Biała’s ‘Cutouts‘

Summary/Abstract: The first cut-out photomontages by Alicja Biała were created as illustrationsto the collection of poems by Marcin Świetlicki Polska (wiązankapieśni patriotycznych) [Poland (A Medley of Patriotic Songs)]. The articlediscusses the poetic function of editing practices, raises the issue of thefolk nature of the artist’s works, and points out their journalistic andcritical aspects. The image of Poland that emerges from Biała’s cut-outs isthe focus of attention. They are analysed in the context of reflections byTim Edensor on the importance of popular culture for national identityand Michael Billig on banal nationalism. The main topic of the articleis the problem of “Polishness as a situation” (according to MieczysławPorębski’s formulation), which photographic montage reconstructs anddeconstructs.

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