Where chicks come to roost
Report your sightings on the map. You can spot the chicks at the Food Art Gallery (ul. Księcia Witolda 1/1), Monopol Hotel and Conference Centre at the Centennial Hall (a metal chick) and in the hall's vicinity (inflatable chicks). The chicks, which were made by Julia Curyło, an artist in residence at the City Gallery, are now making their second attempt to take the urban space of Wroclaw. The artist was unlucky in her first attempt, as the students fell so much for the chicks that they stole 5 out of 17 exhibits which roosted in ul. Uniwersytecka, at the intersection of ul. Świdnicka and Oławska and ul. Kuźnicza and Nożownicza (the offenders were recorded and identified with CCTV cameras). Students pierced and took the exhibits, and only two works were found by watchful female students who brought them to the City Gallery (unfortunately, they were "carcasses" and had to be restored).
The chick exhibited at the Monopol Hotel is bearing a reproduction of a painting by Artemisia Gentileschi, and its ironic smile is there to remind you that the painting represents Judith beheading Holofernes
A chick on a mission
But the residents of Wroclaw generally fell for these polyurethane chicks, even though the birds roosted only a few days in the city. They fell for their shapes and designs, as Julia Curyło purposefully decorated her fowl with images by celebrated female artists, ranging from Baroque (Artemisia Gentileschi) and Impressionism (Mary Cassat) to more contemporary artists (Lee Krasner, Alina Szapocznikow, Yoko Ono). "This provides an overview on art history, and I selected works to achieve contrasting effects and showcase the artists' personalities," says Julia Curyło.
Yoko Ono is made of metal and ornamented with the "Yes" motif, which brings to mind a work with which the Japanese artist won John Lennon's heart
Chicks portable and de luxe
Polyurethane is a very convenient material for the artist. "You can fold the chicks, carry them and easily inflate at a new location," explains the author. Only this year, new chicks in their de luxe versions have appeared at the Food Art Gallery and Monopol Hotel. "I experimented with inflatable metal technology to make the chicks more durable," says Julia Curyło. The inflatable works of art will be exhibited in the Centenary Hall's vicinity.
Why has this Warsaw-based artist fallen so much for the chicks? "In Polish, we often use the word hen as a derogatory term for a housewife. I wanted to show that women can be both caring and creative," says Julia Curyło. She also explains that her installation in English is called Chicks to make the birds sound and look more attractive to foreign audiences.
Chicks featured in The New York Times
The New York Times also fell for the chicks
Last year, Julia Curyło exhibited her works at the 3 Art Gallery in Brooklyn, New York. The exhibition was extremely popular with the audience, which brought publicity in The New York Times, and the artist also received enquiries from private collectors. "My chicks attracted a lot interest, especially those made in metal, as they are more durable, like sculptures," says Julia Curyło.
The artist is now making a chick specially commissioned by the celebrated painter Leon Tarasewicz (and her former teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts). If you wish purchase a chick, just go to the City Gallery to make an order. The chicks are now on display until May, but they will also probably appear in new locations, which are now kept strictly confidential.
