The United State of Poland 🪄

The project was created in cooperation with Agata Konarska for the eight edition of “Muzyka Protestu” (“Protest Music”) in Rondo Sztuki, curated by Adrian Chorębała.

If Poland were America, would Stan Tymiński become president?

For Barbara Gryka and Agata Konarska, Stan Tymiński is like a character from a fairy tale. They didn’t learn about him at school but became aware of his existence only recently. It’s a crazy story: Stan Tymiński, a rich emigrant living in Canada, suddenly came to Poland in 1990 to run for president in the first free presidential election. It’s hard to tell whether he actually wanted to free the Polish people and lead Poland to economic prosperity. He successfully gathered a hundred thousand signatures to run in the election and then he even managed to reach the second round.

His appearance in the political scene came as a shock and threat to many, especially his rival candidate – Lech Wałęsa. The latter represented the “Solidarność” trade union, founded by the workers of the Gdańsk Ship Yard, as an activist and the first leader of the organization. In the times of the People’s Republic of Poland (PRL), many citizens regarded him as a hero of the nascent democracy and freedom. During the electoral campaign, Tymiński was victim of many attacks in the form of press articles aimed at ridiculing him and tarnishing his reputation. Finally, Lech Wałęsa came out victorious.

This project tries to explore the question what would happen “if”, but also serves as an opportunity to evoke this fascinating persona from another world (literally), who could potentially help to change Poland after the fall of communism. Tymiński embodied the promise of success and the fulfilment of the American Dream about a better future.

The video-clip forming part of this work also resembles a dream. The candidates face each other in an MMA ring, and Stan Tymiński disses Lech Wałęsa like any good rapper would: I give you a bite and put you to sleep like the comrade Gie… Rek-ording the ad for my night club, Tymiński is a State of Mind. The disses were written by Piotr Michalczuk, who created them on the basis of newspaper clippings defaming Stan Tymiński. Images for the video have been generated by AI. The politicians are accompanied by their wives, making an appearance as the empty balloons over their heads, because they remained mute during the political debate, which was literal for Stan Tymiński’s Peruvian wife, Mirna Graciela, as she didn’t speak Polish.

The Project forms part of a new historical movement defined by Ewa Domańska as “rescue history”, taking on a multidisciplinary approach to historical research, guided not only by the cognitive aspect of exploring, restoring, preserving and providing access to some forgotten, omitted or excluded fragments of the past, kept out of the mainstream.

 

Text 🪄

Wałęsa you bastard you can’t tell my goal here

I came from Peru like a fucking Rockefeller

I give you a bite and put you to sleep like the comrade Gie…

Rek-ording the ad for my night club

 

The former SB is part of my staff

I have a file on you, naive Bolo, your people like children in the fog

You dumb fucker, Imma liberty represent

From Toronto to Acapulco – DMT in ma hand

 

Mister Tymiński, your case is a joke

Virgin Mary protects us, you’re under Satan’s yoke

A lone Devil from the jungle, fragile is your house of cards

I have beaten your pals, now comes the second part

Me and my squad beat communism up

You rant like a cunt, go home, you’re drunk

It’s not Polish vodka that would give you a boost

It’s a drug, black briefcase, black suit, it means you’re a Jew

 

Tymiński is a State of Mind

Kaczyński brothers stealing the Moon was a SCAM

When they arrived, I was already there

DNA double helix represent reptilian

Ram papa pam Ram papa pam Ram papa pam I’m the Master and you’re scum

I do some flexing, you get a ban

I am Libertarian

You’ve got a flute in your pants, me – a Top Gun

Don’t even ask what they deal me for fun

For your pain in the ass take a puff from my bong

In the United State of Poland you don’t belong

I go online to buy some stock

And share this prophetic knowledge with my flock

The sacred dogs start drooling over food

I break into their kennel as a dog-catcher would.

 

Text by Monika Waraxa
Translation by Zofia Piętek
Music of Protest, Rondo Sztuki, Katowice (PL)
Curated by Adriana Chorębała
Music by Piotr Michalczuk
AI by Agata Lankamer