The idea for the piece came during a protest-performance titled Serce oddaję
Rzece (I Give My Heart to the River), which initially wasn’t intended to address
patriarchy. However, during my solo time by the river, I encountered numerous
judgmental, violent, and patriarchal remarks, jokes, and „good advice” from men,
many bordering on harassment:
„What does your husband think about this?”
„Your husband let you go alone? He must want to get rid of you,
because this isn’t normal.”
„Have fun, because what else do you have to do?”
„I doubt you’ll make it to the sea with those small hands.”
„Weren’t you afraid for your virtue?”, „You’d make a good wife.”
The scale of this experience inspired me to create a fabric work titled Vortex
of patriarchy. I embroidered the comments heard from men along the river
and in ports onto a round piece of fabric resembling a whirlpool.
Perhaps the most well-known negative stereotype unfairly attached to the Vistula
is its treacherous whirlpools, which supposedly swallow any unfortunate soul
who ventures too close to its waters. In this work, I referred to the situation of
women and men who, in seemingly minor, insignificant incidents, are drawn into
the omnipresent whirlpool of patriarchy. I felt how women are stripped of their
agency and their ability to make decisions about their own lives.
Every form of depriving women of their autonomy is met with my fierce
opposition. I believe every woman is incredibly strong and has the right
to pursue her dreams. I dedicate my work to them.