“Let the Artists Die”

The performance of “Let the Artists Die” seems vague and indefinite but, on the other hand, it is highly symbolic. It alludes to extremely significant works by other artists, e.g. the paintings “Melancholy” (1894) and “Vicious Circle” (1895–97) by Jacek Malczewski, or “Liberty Leading the People” (1830) by Eug?ne Delacroix. First all of, Kantor enters into a dialogue with the figure of Wit Stwosz, an artist from Nurnberg, and his greatest masterpiece – the Gothic “Altar of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary” (1477–1489) in the Mariacki Church in Krakow. He wrote about it in his notes for the performance: “Everything was too sacred and untouchable. I was excited by the idea of possible unseemly profanation and subversion against this sanctity. I decided it was a perfect material for my activities”. On the stage of the Cricot 2 Theatre the Altar was constructed of wooden pillories and actors as Apostles.