Tomasz Kireńczuk: 'The Most Radical Effect of Pressure Is the Loss of Breath'

Tomasz Kireńczuk, discussing the phenomenon of performance art, describes it as rooted in presence, physicality, and intensity, which he terms "radical presence." He believes that even the most progressive performance practices are accessible, offering a sense of closeness and inclusivity to diverse audiences.

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Performativity is based on presence, which in turn arises from and connects with corporeality, physicality, intensity – something I call radical presence.

The current theme of the festival, "deep pressures," reflects the pervasive stress individuals and societies face. Kireńczuk explained that the festival examines not only external pressures, political, social, and economic, but also the individual and group responses to them. He is interested in when dissent arises and how practices of care can be integrated amidst pressure, noting that the ultimate effect of extreme pressure is the loss of breath, making breathing practices a significant element in performance art.

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the ultimate and most radical effect of pressure is the loss of breath.

Kireńczuk also addressed his move from Poland's "Dialog" festival, clarifying that it was a deliberate choice for professional development rather than an escape from political persecution. While acknowledging the negative impact of Minister Piotr Gliński's cultural policies and the local authorities' handling of the arts, he stated he was not forced to leave. His experience with political and institutional pressure during his time at "Dialog" likely influenced his subsequent appointment as artistic director of the Santarcangelo Festival, a position he secured after a competitive international selection process.

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I made a choice that was good for me at that moment and allowed me to develop in the area that interested me.