Dłubak x Zaradny: Non finito

Zbigniew Dłubak (1921–2005) is remembered as one of the architects of modern artistic sensibility in post-war Poland. A painter and theorist, and co-founder of the legendary Permafo group, he stood out for his bold and experimental approach to photography. He treated photography as a tool for examining the mechanisms of sign creation and perception.

The exhibition at Galeria Studio – organized in collaboration with the Archeology of Photography Foundation – seeks not only to revisit Dłubak’s iconic works but also to present them in the context of sound art. The exhibition includes his original vintage prints and canvas paintings, including pieces from Galeria Studio's collection. Accompanying them is a sound composition recorded in Dłubak’s former Warsaw apartment by Anna Zaradny (b. 1977) – an artist and composer whose work seamlessly merges the realms of visual arts and experimental sound. This composition, created specifically for the exhibition, explores the sonic aspects of Dłubak’s apartment. Using various strategies, including field recordings and melorecitation based on Dłubak’s theoretical texts, Zaradny demonstrates that the concept of the artist’s studio can be reimagined as a site for generating new layers of interpretation.

The term "non finito," included in the exhibition title, refers to the tradition of Renaissance works intentionally left unfinished. This term is used to signal the openness of Dłubak’s oeuvre to ongoing interpretations and contexts that continually enrich the meaning of his work. Processuality and performativity are elements that connect the approaches of both artists. Dłubak’s photographs, enveloped by Zaradny’s immaterial sonic realization, become part of an immersive experience: the sound installation is organically woven into the fabric of the gallery, allowing the works to resonate with diverse audiences.

The exhibition also features other works by Anna Zaradny, including video compositions, objects, and installations, which contribute to a narrative of interpenetration and dialogue.