Have you had your three Shredded Wheat this morning? This lot certainly have. In fact they finished them all, then ate the box, the bowl, the spoon and maybe even the waiter who served them as well by the looks of things. These hefty units are Polish champion powerlifters, assembled into a formidable team by German artist Christian Jankowski for his Heavy Weight History art project.
They are pictured in the capital Warsaw, busting a gut to lift some of the city’s most important statuary. Communist-era monuments, post-Soviet celebratory statues, and earlier symbols of historical Poland are all tackled by the team in a metaphorical attempt to lift the burden of the past from the shoulders of the country, while at the same time reminding locals of the statuary, stimulating debate on their relevance and inviting ideas on future additions. The collection of photographs is being exhibited at Lisson Gallery, London, in conjunction with an installation and a 25-minute film. The end date is 8 March.
Heavy Weight History, 2013
Video, 25 min. colour, sound
© Christian Jankowski;
courtesy Lisson Gallery, London
