In October 2020, Julia Przyłębska’s Constitutional Tribunal passed a ruling against women, effectively banning their right to legal abortion. This was an attack on women’s fundamental right to self-determination. Despite the raging pandemic, thousands of people took to the streets of Polish cities. This situation prompted me to initiate an action expressing my opposition to the dangerous actions of politicians. I decided to create a figure that would symbolize female strength and sisterly support. A figure that would stand up for equal treatment for all, while also connecting with local history, making the protest more rooted in Krakow’s context. This is how Stańczyk(A) was born.
The inspiration for the project was the character of Stańczyk, the court jester from Krakow, known for his sharp wit, with which he criticized political misjudgments of the rulers. He was regarded as a great patriot, deeply involved in political affairs. The figure of Stańczyk has been depicted multiple times in Polish paintings, poetry, and literature. In „Wesele” by Stanisław Wyspiański, Stańczyk is portrayed as an allegory of a man deeply concerned about his country’s future. I decided to create a female counterpart – a modern- day jesteress who critically assesses the actions of the current government.
The letter „A” in the feminine form Stańczyk(A) symbolizes anarchism, rejecting any form of established authority. This idea stemmed from my own beliefs and my strong opposition to depriving people of their fundamental right to freedom of choice. I used the subversive technique of cultural provocation, intervening in the established semantic form of the work, performing a repetition while simultaneously shifting the meaning of its original. Stańczyk, an iconic figure in Polish culture, is transformed into a woman, set in a somewhat punk, street-style convention.
By embodying Stańczyk(A) in collaboration with Krakow’s Women’s Strike, I sought to support those who have been marginalized and stripped of their right to self-determination. Stańczyk(A) serves as a symbolic reminder to those in power, exposing their hypocrisy and the policies that polarize society. The jesteress figure has become a lasting symbol of the local protests – when the women and men of Krakow once again take to the streets, demanding the enforcement of human rights, Stańczyk(A) stands with them.