BOYS

The piece consists of three short videos which can be screened separately (“Spears,” “Ragazzi,” “Stairs”) or as a looped projection. Apart from the films, an independent series of photographs was taken. 



The concept of the series relies on the video and photographic record of improvised actions of a group of young men placed in various situations. They interact, recalling poses and figures familiar from the popular culture. In the interview for the New York Times (Michael Rush, “A Renegade’s Art of the Altogether”, “New York Times”, 21.04.2002) Katarzyna Kozyra commented on their actions thus: “They shamelessly flexed in front of the cameras. […] They behaved like roosters, proudly parading in front of one another, demonstrating their sexual readiness.” This “sexual readiness” of the series’ protagonists would be mocked by attributing them with literal male attributes (“spears”), or – above all – by dressing them in pink underpants resembling in their form female genitalia.



By inverting methods of clandestine observation which the audience may know from her previous works („Bathhouse,” „Men’s Bathhouse“) Kozyra eventually puts a group of young man on display in front of the camera, using her own talents, and turns tables on these ancient conspirators, peeping toms and narcissists. “They are us,” she emphasises.

Patrycja Ostaszewska 

Video projection (colour), loop 4:3 PAL, duration: 14’17”, audio: 

“Spears”, 5’28

“Ragazzi”, 4’00”

“Stairs”, 4’04