100 flags for the 100th anniversary of the election rights of Polish women
The exhibition “100 flags for the 100th anniversary of the election rights of Polish women” taking place at the Central Museum of Textiles in Lodz is the result of the artistic happening “March of 100 FLAGS” held in Warsaw in November 2018 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Polish women’s electoral rights.
The ideal background of the “March of 100 flags” was the interesting social situation of 2018 generated by the 100th anniversary regaining the independence by Poland. The number of celebrations, marches, publications, exhibitions, reconstructions and other initiatives of this anniversary concerned the public sphere. All this was treated with great seriousness.
Referring to this situation, a group of Warsaw artists established the Kolektyw 100 FLAG, whose aim was to remind about an equally significant, and, as it would seem, completely forgotten at that moment, the 100th anniversary of women’s electoral rights falling on November 28, 2018. Both the name and the form (march with the flags) of the initiative were to be a somewhat ironic reference to the celebration of the century of regaining independence.
The main idea of the Kolektyw 100 FLAG was the assumption that the hundredth anniversary of Poland’s electoral rights should be treated as a celebration of all people: regardless of gender, views, social status, place of origin or residence.
Apparently, the most important category was visibility. A joint march with flags along the main streets of Warsaw due to the round anniversary was considered to be a form of activity which perfectly fits the previously accepted ironic and artistic concept which makes it possible to celebrate this holiday without undue seriousness and at the same time in a respectful and joyful way.
The artists from the Kolektyw 100 FLAG decided that the most democratic form of invitation to participation would be an open call addressed to everyone: every gender, social group, every creative person who identified itself with the project.
The “flag” was the call slogan, the association; no particular form was expected, encouraging the releasing of fantasies and creating individual or group artifacts referring to the anniversary.
The number of people who answered the open call and took part in the march exceeded all expectations. As a result, by March 2019 (flags are still being created) over 220 flags were made by over 270 people from all over Poland, in fact from around the world, among others, from Kenya, Brazil, China, the Netherlands and Germany.
The Kolektyw 100 FLAG, inspired by the visibility of the project and subsequent flags submitted for the event, decided to prepare the exhibition program, creating a chance for a critical revision of the project and further participation.
