November 04, 2020 Piotr Szyhalski Meet the artists of the 2020 MCAD Faculty Biennial Laura Wertheim Joseph on Piotr Szyhalski's Current Work Have you lost track of time since that day back in March when Minnesota Governor Tim Walz declared a stay-at-home order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the United States? Do the days run together while also feeling like they each mark an extreme historical event? On March 24, artist and teacher Piotr Szyhalski found himself confined at home, reflecting on the role of the artist in processing this dizzying reality. He discovered seven sheets of paper in his basement and was drawn back to memories of growing up during a time of political strife in Poland. Art supplies could not be squandered. On that day, and every day since, Szyhalski created a stark black-and-white drawing that attempts to unpack the impact of these extreme historical events on the fabric of our daily lives, in real time. Numbering 105 on this writing, each includes the number of known Coronavirus cases and deaths on that day. The German word “Zeitzeuge” captures the essence of what Szyhalski understands his role as an artist to be. Sometimes translated as “contemporary witness” or “eyewitness,” there isn’t an equivalent in English that expresses the word’s dual relationship to witnessing and time. If translated directly, we might call Szyhalski a “Time Witness.” About Piotr Szyhalski Piotr Szyhalski is a Polish-born, US-based multimedia artist whose works move between installation, performance, moving image, painting, photography, drawing, sound, and design, to explore issues related to human ecology and extreme historical phenomena. His work has been exhibited at museums, festivals, and other events worldwide. Szyhalski’s ongoing Labor Camp project (1998–) celebrates the beauty and dignity of labor through visual art, music, posters, printed ephemera, performance, and public actions. Commissioned works include projects for Wim Mertens Quartet in Brussels, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, VocalEssence, Ingenuity Cleveland, Zero One San Jose, IN Light Indianapolis, Northern Spark Festival, and Eastern State Penitentiary (2017), among others. Szyhalski is a previous recipient of the McKnight Fellowship for Visual Artists (2009). Explore more about Piotr Szyhalski