Poland’s Orange Alternative
Poland’s Orange Alternative
Screenings @ Bluestockings Bookstore, November 18, 2009, 7:00 pm and No-Space, November 19, 2009, 7:30 pm
With Dara Greenwald, Waldemar Fydrych, and Agnieszka Kubas
Films:
The Orange Alternative, 1989, Mirosław Dembiński (21 min.)
Dwarves go to Ukraine, 2005, Mirosław Dembińskim (on the OA action in the Orange Revolution in 2004)
Major or the Revolution of Dwarves, 1989, Maria Zmarz-Koczanowicz (40 min.)
Dwarf for the Mayor, 2003, Mirosław Dembiński (36 min.) (on the OA’s election campaign for the City Council in Warsaw)
About the Orange Alternative:
The Orange Alternative is an underground anarchic movement, which was started in 1981 in Wroclaw, south-west Poland, by Waldemar Fydrych aka “Major.” Somewhat inspired by Provos, and strongly influenced by Dadaism and Surrealism, it painted absurd graffiti dwarfs on city walls, which became its symbol and organized massive happenings oftentimes with participation of thousands of people wearing dwarf hats. It was one of the more picturesque elements of Eastern European opposition against communism.
Waldemar “Major” Fydrych was born in Torun, Poland on April 8, 1953. Graduated in History and Art History at the University of Wroclaw. Founder of the Orange Alternative. In March 1988, he was arrested for distributing women’s hygienic napkins in the street. Sentenced to three months of prison but released following public uproar.
Date
January 27, 2009
Collections
