This is the first monographic publication covering the entirety of Azorro’s creative output. It is a result of the group’s first solo exhibition that was hosted by the Centre of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu in Toruń. The aim of the exhibition was to present the activities of the group, which split a while ago, but also the unpredictability of the Azorro phenomenon, nonlinear and defying categorization. The texts contained in this publication, including essays, commissioned articles as well as reprinted ones, interviews with the artists and film transcripts, are meant to make the Supergroup’s work more accessible.

So unexploited that it attracts attention, the seemingly obvious phenomenon of laughter, the tool that Azorro used to reproduce the never-ending giggle, but also to criticize aesthetic and axiological categories deeply rooted in society, is the keynote. The question of humor is explored in the essays by Jim Holt and Simon Critchley, providing a background for Azorro’s work. The group’s situation in place and time, in the social, cultural and theoretical environment, is discussed in different ways in essays by Anda Rottenberg, Daniel Muzyczuk and Jakub Żulczyk, while the gender-related ambitions of the group can be examined within the context of Michael Taussing’s article. The heterogenic character of the group as reflected by Azorro’s history can be found in the chronology and the interviews. The diversity of views, emphasizing a certain elusiveness of meaning, is meant to familiarize us with Azorro’s alogical ways. It was indeed these ways that made it possible for the members of the group to achieve a transformation of form ― they matched our expectations, and notions addressing some crucial matters, in a most unpredictable way. This is the secret of Azorro’s unique charm ― they bring us closer to things themselves, as well as to the essence of laughter.

Part of text by Krzysztof Gutfrański – Tell Them They Don’t Exist

Publication

Editing by
Krzysztof Gutfrański, Joanna Zielińska

Editing
Jolanta Pieńkos
Daniel Malone (English version)

Coordination
Katarzyna Radomska

Translations
Łukasz Skąpski (Azorro’s films)
Monika Ujma

Photography
Wojciech Olech, Supergrupa Azorro, Rudolf Steiner

Design and typesetting
full-metal-jacket

Printed by
Arspol, Bydgoszcz

ISBN: 978-83-929875-4-3

Tags: catalogues, publications