The Art of Self-Portrait by Tomasz Machciński: Between Illusion, Dream and Plural Identities
In this exhibition created in collaboration with the Tomasz Machciński Foundation, galerie christian berst art brut presents around sixty self-portraits by the Polish artist, made at different periods of his life. Curated by Katarzyna Karwańska and Zofia Ploska-Czartoryska, the exhibition is structured around the two great themes of his life: his quest for identity and the American dream.
Tomasz Machciński was born in 1942 and grew up in hospitals and orphanages. At the end of the war, Tomasz Machciński built his identity around an autograph sent to him by the American actress Joan Tompkins, whom he then imagined to be his parent. Convinced that the actress was his biological mother for almost 20 years, he was deeply affected when he learned the truth. His work focuses on this lifelong quest for identity, and consists of thousands of self-portraits, for which he often borrows fictitious identities.
Tomasz Machciński embodies a wide range of celebrities, historical figures and even invented characters. As a photographer and performer, he uses his body as an artistic medium, exploiting all the changes it undergoes over time, such as aging, disease and hair loss and regrowth.
“american dream, I made it all because of you”, a phrase he often wrote to Joan Tompkins, becomes the title of this unique and singular exhibition, between illusion, dream and multiple identities.
At the opening, we met Marc Donnadieu, Laurent Goumarre, Jean-Hubert Martin and Annette Messager.
Photos: Michaël Huard et Marthe Le More
