“BLUE DOGS” EXHIBITION WITH PAT GUZIK
“Blue Dogs” Exhibition – An Artistic Journey by the Duo Tomasz Armada and Pat Guzik*
The Gdańsk City Gallery presented the fascinating exhibition “Blue Dogs,” the result of a creative collaboration between designer Tomasz Armada and designer Pat Guzik. The exhibition not only bridges the worlds of fashion and art but also explores the theme of travel as its central source of inspiration.
Curator Gabriela Warzycka-Tutak guides viewers through a carefully designed space that seems “tailored to the present day.” An eclectic mix of Eastern, exotic, Oriental, local, sustainable, and seasonal elements creates a unique atmosphere, the result of the collaboration between Guzik and Armada.
In her curatorial text, Warzycka-Tutak describes the journey through this space as a wander through a landscape that is both exotic and familiar. It is a journey that leads from reflections on work and the fashion industry to a moment of peace and contemplation. Armada’s coat becomes a vehicle for the artist’s reflections on fatigue following an intense period of creative work.
An important element of the exhibition is the green of the green screen, which serves as the backdrop for this artistic journey. Warzycka-Tutak skillfully uses this “non-color” to create an atmosphere full of ambivalence, where flashiness meets transparency.
As she guides viewers through the gallery, Warzycka-Tutak evokes a variety of sensations—from the scent of incense to the sounds of meditative music and the soft glow of a standing lamp. As a result, the exhibition becomes a space that simultaneously inspires meditation and can trigger a panic attack—a perfect reflection of the contemporary world.
It is worth noting that every element of the exhibition—from clothing to objects—has its place and meaning. These elements direct visitors’ attention, highlighting aesthetic exaggerations and references to meme culture.
The gallery’s interior, filled with the scent of incense, meditative music, and warm light, forms a cohesive whole. It seems as though, as they journey through this space, visitors are transported to another dimension where the aesthetics of excess and harmony coexist.
All of this makes the “Blue Dogs” exhibition not only a journey through the artistic realm, but also a journey through various layers of contemporary culture and aesthetics.
Artists, separated by thousands of kilometers, share their experiences and reflections while simultaneously challenging existing standards in the fashion industry. Their dialogue is not only an exchange of ideas but also an act of subversion against convention.
The “Blue Dogs” exhibition is undoubtedly an artistic journey that not only inspires but also prompts reflection on the contemporary world of fashion and art. Pat Guzik and Tomasz Armada have created a space that is perfectly “tailored to the times.”
Photographs by Bartosz Górka
June 7, 2019 – July 13, 2019 “Blue Dogs” with Pat Guzik at the Gdańsk City Gallery