An individual exhibition by Przemek Branas was opened on 26 September 2024 at CasCaDas ArtSpace in Barcelona. “A Man Eating His Own Tail” is an artistic interpretation of a transcultural mythical figure of Uroboros. To create the works, the artist has used natural materials and items found in public spaces, parks and gardens. CasCaDas ArtSpace and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute are the exhibition organisers. 

“A Man Eating His Own Tail” – an individual exhibition of Przemek Branas’ works

Przemek Branas is an author of performances, videos and installations. In his works he combines biographical themes with universal symbols. He is interested in transgressing boundaries set by body, culture and mechanisms of social functioning. The artist participated, among others, in the Embodied Action festival in Hongkong (2016), GUYU ACTION Performance Art Festival in Xi’an (China, 2016) and Polish Performance Night, Le Lieu Gallery in Quebec (2014). He is also a laureate of the 2nd Prize in the Spojrzenia Deutsche Bank Award 2017, while in 2015 he won the Grey House Foundation Szara Kamienica award.

“A Man Eating His Own Tail” exhibition presents works created through the use of natural materials and items found in a botanic garden, in an allotment, during walks on a beach or on grocery stands in El Raval district. The artist subjected these items to a series of experiments and performances: natural passing of time, solar energy, vegetation, decay. In effect, out of everyday use objects and items perceived as waste, such as supermarket brochures, fruit peelings, plants and sticks, Branas creates completely new objects: comets, ancient masks, archetypal figures.

The exhibition inspired by the mythical figure of Uroboros – a snake eating its own tail

The main inspiration behind the exhibition was the mythical figure of Uroboros – a snake eating its own tail. Uroboros symbolises infinity, eternal recurrence and cyclicity of time. This mythical animal permanently devouring itself and becoming reborn illustrates the eternality of the matter and the motif of reconciliation of ostensible opposites. Sometimes it is also interpreted as a symbol of stupidity, running around in circles or irrational activity.

Using numerous cultural codes and ambiguity of the Uroboros symbol, Przemek Branas creates a visual narration on the potential of transformation and sweetness of stagnation, which can be read both on a personal as well as an eco-critical or political level.

The exhibition will be open from 26 September 2024 to 2 January 2025. The exhibition has been organised by CasCaDas ArtSpace and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.  Krupa Art Foundation is a partner of the exhibition. The exhibition curator is Michalina Sablik.