Premiere of Bartłomiej Kiełbowicz's album ‘I Disagree’
On March 3rd, Wrzenie Świata in Warsaw hosted a special meeting with Bartłomiej Kiełbowicz, an artist and activist who has long treated art as a tool of social resistance.
In a conversation led by Mariusz Szczygieł, the discussion revolved around the power of images, the necessity of dissent, and the role of an artist in times of crisis.
This was not just a discussion about art—it was a conversation about courage, engagement, and the strength of community. 'I Disagree', Kiełbowicz's latest album, is a record of three years of artistic resistance, where drawing became both a means of documentation and a tool for mobilization.
"For me, the message is more important than perfection. Sometimes I work like a journalist—reacting quickly to events and recording them through images." – said the artist during the event. His works are not polished illustrations but an intuitive response to reality, an attempt to capture emotions and distill them into a simple yet powerful form.
Art that refuses to stay silent
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kiełbowicz has been using art as a form of protest and a weapon against indifference. His album tells the story of war crimes committed by Russia, commenting on the tragedies in Bucha and Olenivka, but also serving as a visual gesture of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
"The war in Ukraine has profoundly changed my approach to art. I shifted from painting to activism. I believe in collective action." – emphasized Kiełbowicz. He refuses to create within the walls of closed galleries—his drawings live in the streets, on social media, and on banners carried by protesters. His is an art that reacts, refuses to let people forget, and urges action.
"We cannot be indifferent"
During the meeting, the artist repeatedly stressed that art must provoke action. As he says: "This question—have we done enough?—is directed not only at others but first and foremost at myself. In difficult times, art cannot remain indifferent. It must react, inspire, and push people to act."
'I Disagree' is not just a collection of drawings—it is a manifesto, documenting the most significant artistic interventions of recent years. The publication also includes curatorial texts by Kseniia Małych and Stach Szabłowski, offering deeper insight into the role of engaged art in today’s world.
The album was published by The Mieroszewski Centre and Nova Polshcha.
