BIGOS: artists of Polish origin

Description:

A catalogue of the first Bigos 'all members' open exhibition in **Brixton Art Gallery** in 1986. There is a foreword in Polish by **Andrzej Borkowski** which explains the choice of the name of the group. A long article that precedes the artists pages documents the critical discursive formation of the group with sections written by different artists. Some Polish artists in London decide not to be part of the group and give their reasons. I think that the issue was an ambivalence about 'national identity' as being tainted by nationalism etc, whereas I took care that the group was 'progressive' in direction. 22 artists have a page each to describe themselves and or their work. The group makes an impact and goes on to make a tour of Poland and a 'made-to-measure' tour of England funded by the Arts Council. **The Tate Archive** has acquired my archive of the Bigos newsletters, show catalogues and other ephemera but to date has not catalogued the material. **Artists in the show:** Lydia Bauman, Margaret Bialokoz Smith, Martin Blaszk, Tessa Blatchley, Krystyna Borkowska, Andrzej Borkowski, Jerzy George Bort, Maria Chevska, Leszek Dabrowski, Mietek Dymny, Ruth Jacobson, Kasia Januszko, Simon Lewandowski, Ewa Mann, Rosita Matyniowna, Jamoula McKean, Ondre Nowakowski, Margaret Ochocki, Jozefa Rogocki, Louise Severyn Kosinska, Stefan Szczelkun, Jola Scicinska, Silvia Ziranek.

subjects: Anglo-Polish,  migrants,  second generation,  Polish artists,  national identity,  Jewish artists,  immigrants,  cultural identity

People: Kasia Januszko,  Andrzej Borkowski

Places: Brixton,  London

Times: 1986