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The Daily Questions

The daily questions is an ongoing series of neon questions.

The Daily Questions, initiated in 2013, is a series of neon installations that pose fundamental questions about human existence, history, and the nature of art. The project draws inspiration from the Romantic tradition, emphasizing the individual’s struggle for freedom in the face of shifting power structures. Martychowiec sees this struggle as relevant today as it was in the 19th century, with power dynamics shifting from the state to the private sector in the contemporary capitalist landscape.

The project utilizes neon signs, typically associated with advertising and consumerism, as a medium for philosophical inquiry. This subversion challenges viewers to reconsider their assumptions about art and its role in society.

The project’s focus shifts over time, reflecting the artist’s evolving understanding of the relationship between the individual and the universal, the personal and the historical, as earlier questions of a universal nature gradually give way to more personal and specific inquiries.

The themes explored in the project resonate with motifs found throughout the artist’s symbolic narrative. One of the central themes is the concept of belonging. The neon Where does your heart belong? (2014) exemplifies this exploration, prompting viewers to reflect on their place within various social constructs, such as family and country. Martychowiec suggests that these constructs, while offering a sense of security, can also limit individual freedom and agency. By questioning these constructs, Martychowiec encourages a process of deconstruction and understanding, which he believes is essential for achieving individual autonomy and ultimately, freedom in the contemporary political landscape.

The project also critiques the modern conflation of freedom with consumption, as exemplified by the question What do you desire?. Martychowiec contrasts the inherent human desire for freedom of thought, expression, and creation with the manufactured ‘freedom’ of consumption promoted by corporations. He argues that this consumerist model of freedom is ultimately destructive, leading to environmental degradation and the erosion of individual liberties.

The question Do you believe in art? takes on a particular significance in light of Martychowiec’s concept of the ‘readyframed,’ where everyday objects are designated as art through the belief of both the artist and the spectator. This question challenges viewers to confront their own beliefs and assumptions about art, for example prompting them to consider whether art in a consumerist society can transcend its market value and retain deeper meaning.

Other questions in the series further challenge viewers to examine their values, beliefs, and aspirations.

The neon How can you be an artist unless you are honest? can be interpreted as a commentary on the challenges of maintaining artistic integrity in a market-driven art world, further emphasizing the project’s engagement with the complexities of contemporary art and its relationship to society. By removing the word ‘artist,’ Martychowiec extends this question to all individuals, asking how anyone can live authentically without honesty.

The final question, What is left to us?, serves as a culmination of the project’s inquiries, prompting viewers to reflect on the state of contemporary society and the individual’s place within it. In a world grappling with environmental destruction, political conflict, and the erosion of individual freedoms, this question encourages a critical examination of the values and systems that shape our lives.

Through The Daily Questions, Martychowiec reaffirms his belief in the power of art to provoke thought and inspire dialogue. By posing fundamental questions about human existence, he invites viewers to engage in self-reflection and critical inquiry, ultimately fostering a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world.

What is left to us?

(2020) neon 24x135 cm

How can you be?

(2017) neon, 25x 315 cm

art by Michal Martychowiec

Do you believe in art?

(2016) neon, 25x118 cm

art by Michal Martychowiec
art by Michal Martychowiec
art by Michal Martychowiec at MMS2
art by Michal Martychowiec at MMS2

What do you desire?

(2015) neon, 25x130 cm

art by Michal Martychowiec
art by Michal Martychowiec
art by Michal Martychowiec at MMS2

Where does your heart belong?

(2014) neon, 25x155 cm

art by Michal Martychowiec
art by Michal Martychowiec, Miroslaw Balka
art by Michal Martychowiec, On Kawara

How far can you see?

(2013) neon, 25x140 cm

art by Michal Martychowiec
art by Michal Martychowiec
art by Michal Martychowiec