EXHIBITION: EQUALITY

“Równorodność,” a solo exhibition at the State Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw,
“Równorodność” – Tomasz Armada at the State Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw

The State Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw is hosting an exciting exhibition titled “Równorodność: The Tomasz Armada Collection,” in which Tomasz Armada, an outsider in the Polish fashion scene, joins forces with journalist Agata Pyzik. In this collection, they reflect—in a thought-provoking, unsparing, and slightly humorous way—on how passionately Poles view and describe themselves.

The poster, in the style of Patryk Vega—elaborate and slightly monstrous—served as an intriguing invitation to the exhibition. The curator of this extraordinary project was Agata Pyzik, author of the brilliant book *Poor but Sexy*, who, in tandem with Armada, enticed visitors with a double dose of charm. As part of the “Cult Objects” series, which explores cultural phenomena in post-transformation Poland, the exhibition “Homogeneity” presents 13 contemporary “Polish archetypes” in a ruthless and darkly humorous manner, posing the question: who are “Poles” really?

Tomasz Armada explains that the goal of the exhibition was to create a collection not only of clothing but also to go beyond traditional frameworks by incorporating video works and installations. As part of this exhibition, located in a hall of the Ethnographic Museum, figures are presented that loosely reference the 19th-century ethnographic category of “folk types.” We created these characters by drawing on images and stereotypes from the media and pop culture.

In this space, rife with illusions, fake identities, and faces altered by plastic surgery, Frankenstein-like figures emerge, constructed from street insults and each other’s faces. These are caricatured avatars representing notions of Polishness. The “Patoinfluencer,” “Korpolaska,” “Real Man,” “Trendy Gay Couple,” “Euro-Poles,” and other characters come to life in this unconventional exhibition.

The “Równorodność” project is not sociology, but rather a compilation of “types” based on stereotypes and preconceptions. Agata Pyzik emphasizes that these are caricatures—human memes—that exist primarily in the realm of the imagination. Yet these caricatures are intended to prompt reflection on the widespread use of stereotypes in public discourse.

Tomasz Armada, moving between different worlds—such as theater, visual art, and fashion—emphasizes that he always strives to be open to the diversity of people and their points of view. His work knows no boundaries of age, gender, identity, or orientation. In “Równorodność,” he sought to make people aware that, despite our differences, we are in fact a predominantly peasant society—one that is highly homogeneous—and that stereotypes are ridiculous and hopeless.



The exhibition “Equality” is not only a collection of caricatures but also a subtle look at contemporary Poland, raising questions about identity, stereotypes, and social diversity. Armada and Pyzik have created a unique space where art meets satire, and the audience is compelled to reflect on their own beliefs and attitudes.
November 3, 2020–April 20, 2021