Josephine

Josephine, a living rabbit, is a central figure in Michal Martychowiec’s ongoing artistic project. Originating from the 2016 installation Do you believe in art?, Josephine embodies a living artwork, questioning and redefining the paradigms of art, history, and existence. ‘While alive, a work of art, and when dead, a part of art history’. In this sense, it is a symbolic re-enactment of art history and its contingency.

As a symbol of life and agency, Josephine is ever-fleeting and intangible, defying containment within man-made systems like museums or virtual realities. Her existence as a living being continuously escapes reason, highlighting the limitations of human understanding and control. This contrasts with the panda symbol in Martychowiec’s work, which represents a docile acceptance of societal structures and a lack of historical awareness. Josephine, on the other hand, is presented as an active participant in Martychowiec’s work, as seen in Josephine, Reading History, where she interacts with a Go board, disrupting the recreation of a historical game. This interaction symbolizes the unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of life, which constantly challenges and reshapes our understanding of the past and present.

Josephine’s significance extends beyond her physical presence. She is a historical entity, co-constituted by her situation within Martychowiec’s artistic narrative. She stands in opposition to the panda, embodying an existential vitality that resists the passive conformity represented by the panda.

Martychowiec draws parallels between Josephine and Malevich’s Black Square, both symbols of creation and sources of myth. However, while the Black Square’s physical existence ultimately diminishes its myth, Josephine’s impermanence as a living being ensures the endurance of her myth. Her existence is preserved through the various artworks that reference her, creating a network of interconnected narratives that transcend her physical lifespan.

In an era of oversaturation and overproduction in contemporary culture, Josephine’s unattainability and impermanence offer a unique form of resistance. Unlike mass-produced artworks, Josephine’s myth cannot be replicated or controlled. Her existence challenges the commodification of art and offers a reminder of the fleeting and precious nature of life itself.