Study for The Wounded Insurgent Study for The Wounded Insurgent”

The nature of Karol Radziszewski's art is contextual. The artist often alludes to his own experiences; he raises problems connected with homesexualism, social exclusion, as well as nationalism and history. Study of an Injured Rebel comprises six photographs and a drawing. They were created with a mural in mind, which was to be placed in the Warsaw Rising Museum, but which eventually wasn't realised. The depiction of a wounded rebel proposed by the artist differs from the popular images of man – a soldier and a hero. The naked figure is deprived of heroism. The undisguised, erotic interest in the beauty of male body corresponds to the provocative gesture of licking a finger. The latter can be understood in two ways: as the proverbial (and, as generally understood, unmanly) licking one's wounds, but also as an erotic message directed at the viewer. By questioning the hegemony of sterotypical masculinity the artist argues with the historic iconography of male heroes.

Karol Radziszewski (b. 1980) – pursues painting, performance, creates photographs, videos, murals and interdisciplinary projects. Publisher and chief editor of “DIK Fagazine”. Founder of “Queer Archives Institute”. The artist draws inspiration for his stylistically diverse art from popular culture, photography, devotional art, comic books and animated films. Radziszewski's works are stylistically consistent with both photorealism and pop art.


His works are in the collections of Bunkier Sztuki, Muzeum Sztuki Nowoczesnej in Warsaw, Zachęta in Warsaw, Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw, Arsenal Gallery in Białystok and the Department of Modern Art, the National Museum in Gdańsk, to name a few.

The nature of Karol Radziszewski's art is contextual. The artist often alludes to his own experiences; he raises problems connected with homesexualism, social exclusion, as well as nationalism and history. Study of an Injured Rebel comprises six photographs and a drawing. They were created with a mural in mind, which was to be placed in the Warsaw Rising Museum, but which eventually wasn't realised. The depiction of a wounded rebel proposed by the artist differs from the popular images of man – a soldier and a hero. The naked figure is deprived of heroism. The undisguised, erotic interest in the beauty of male body corresponds to the provocative gesture of licking a finger. The latter can be understood in two ways: as the proverbial (and, as generally understood, unmanly) licking one's wounds, but also as an erotic message directed at the viewer. By questioning the hegemony of sterotypical masculinity the artist argues with the historic iconography of male heroes.

Karol Radziszewski (b. 1980) – pursues painting, performance, creates photographs, videos, murals and interdisciplinary projects. Publisher and chief editor of “DIK Fagazine”. Founder of “Queer Archives Institute”. The artist draws inspiration for his stylistically diverse art from popular culture, photography, devotional art, comic books and animated films. Radziszewski's works are stylistically consistent with both photorealism and pop art.

His works are in the collections of Bunkier Sztuki, Muzeum Sztuki Nowoczesnej in Warsaw, Zachęta in Warsaw, Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw, Arsenal Gallery in Białystok and the Department of Modern Art, the National Museum in Gdańsk, to name a few.