year of publication: 2016
authors: Małgorzata Bogdańska-Krzyżanek, Zofia Dubowska, Maria Świerżewska Franczak
graphic design: Syfon Studio
publisher: Zachęta — National Gallery of Art
ISBN: 978-83-64714-19-1

The first ever book for young people about Polish contemporary art, it has been inspired by the guide to every exhibition, handed to Zachęta exhibition visitors and consisting solely of questions helpful in interpreting contemporary artworks. The book has been based on the collection of the Zachęta — National Gallery of Art and features reproductions of some 30 works of contemporary art with accompanying questions. What matters here are not so much the works themselves as the ability to ask questions. Besides reproductions, featured are short artist bios, background information, authors’ comments, curatorial interpretations or conservation recommendations — all kinds of ‘data’ that will help the reader answer the questions posed and provoke him or her to ask their own ones. Rather than another portion of knowledge, lecturing and material to be ‘mastered’, young people expect things to stimulate their curiosity and for their experiences and observations to be treated seriously. Leaving interpretations open rather than communicating given truths, the book meets these expectations. Among the featured artists are Mirosław Bałka, Wojciech Bąkowski, Stanisław Dróżdż, Paweł Jarodzki, Katarzyna Kozyra, Julita Wójcik, Zbigniew Libera or Maria Pinińska-Bereś.

Bundled with the book is the aforementioned guide with questions — a helpful tool for exhibition viewers