studio of mental structures

Supervisors:
Professor Hieronim Neumann

Inter-faculty Studio of Animated Film

Professor Stanisław Wieczorek

Studio of Multimedia Art Creation

> Łukasz Izert, Kuba Maria Mazurkiewicz

In the academic year 2011/12 we established at the Academy the Studio of Mental Structures – an usurpatory master studio where we defended our degree piece in October 2012. Its main objective was the polishing of our attitudes (and the attitudes of other students who collaborated with the studio). The curriculum of the studio focused on developing skills and transgressing limitations through teamwork, being in touch with real issues. These were the issues we encountered in the immediate vicinity – at the Academy – as well as more general matters, concerning anyone.
First, we wanted to break down the stereotype of the artist perceived as a person who must operate within the narrow context of art institutions. Then, we discussed some of the important aspects of human life – spare time, the space we live in, the way we all go rabid sometimes and our spirituality. As our tools we used films, texts published in the studio’s bulletin and occasional papers as well as meetings and debates.
The studio’s activities, often going beyond the established etiquette of student--professor relations, met with resitance. This was because they were not aimed at ensuring the safe preparation of an exhibition or some other presentation but instead encouraged a living interaction with the environment. We wanted to expand the framework, not operate within it.

>Professor Hieronim Neumann

Łukasz Izert and Kuba Mazurkiewicz’s the double degree piece emerged out
of disaffection with the thoughtlessness, arrogance, rudeness, conformity and mediocrity of everyday life, and also out of disagreement with some aspects
of contemporary art and the less-than-pretty state of art education.
Even the actual idea to realise a joint degree piece, developed in two different studios, indicates a desire to change the status quo and expand the platform for artistic expression. A dozen or so months before they started developing their degree piece, Łukasz and Kuba had been writing challenging papers, issued publications, created a discussion forum and raised controversy within the Academy’s walls. And later, they spent a year looking for artistic forms and means to express their ideas visually. As a result, they created the foundation for an intriguing programme, which may be carried on in the future.
The double degree piece was enthusiastically received and generally accepted by both students and professors. The authors were applauded and honoured. In this way the rebelliousness of these youngsters was somehow tamed and pacified. This is an eye-opening experience. In the future they will have to strike home more forcefully.

> Professor. Stanisław Wieczorek

Ibis, Icarus, icon, idea, ideal, idem per idem,
identifier, ideology, idol, idyll, ikebana, ikra,
illumination, illusion, illusionist, illustration,
imam, immigrant, imponderables, impresario,
impressionism, improvisation, impulse, in dubio
pro reo, in flagranti, in optima forma, in vino
veritas, incarnation, inclination, incorporation,
incrustation, incunabulum, individualism, induction,
infantilism, infidel, infinite product, inflation,
Infobahn, information, information technology,
informel, inhalation, initial, initiator, inlay, inquisition,
inscription, insignia, inspiciens, installation, intellectual,
intelligentsia, intention, interaction, interest, internet,
intonation, introversion, intuition, invasion, inversion,
iron clamp, irony, Iroquois, irrationalism, irritation,
Isis, isolation, iuvenalia, IZERT.

Professor Stanisław Wieczorek on Łukasz Izert and his degree piece, written
in a single sentence on the night of 2 to 3 October 2012.