³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

Tak Jest is Polish for That's How it is. How do I know?ÌýCos its the title ofÌýa major exhibition of workÌýby the youngÌýPolish visual artist Marcin Maciejowski. I saw it on Tuesday atÌýthe Well I was in the cultural capital of Poland so after I had done the Zoo, the acquarium and eaten my body weight in pierogi, I had to do something cultural!

It's the first time Maciejowski has ever had such a comprehensive show. And at 36 this seems to be his moment in the sun.Ìý

Before I walked into the museum gallery I had never heard of him.ÌýNow I am his biggest fan. But the zloti can only stretch to buying a couple of post cards of his work before I leave. I pick two. They couldn't be further apart but both bear his stamp.

The first isÌýcalled VIP, dating from 2008,Ìýimages ofÌýcelebrity subverted. Newspaper or magazine photos of famous actresses posing onÌýtheÌýred carpet should exude the glamour and glitz of the opening night, but the glamour becomes sinister as the womenÌýhave all been painted minus their facial features. It's celebrity gossip magazine turned on its faceless head.Ìý

The other one dates from 1999Ìýand is called "Z prezydentem Aleksandrem Kwasniewskim i jego zona Jolanta""which translatesÌýas "With President Aleksander Kwasnieski and His wife Jolanta".ÌýThe person the President of Poland and his wife areÌý"with" isn't faceless like the VIP actresses. In fact he'sÌýso famous he doesn't need a namecheck.ÌýIt's the late Pope John Paul the Second, the former Archbisop of Krakow,ÌýKarol Wojtyla who famously played goal for Cracovia and who could be seen as the godfather of Krakow, his image everywhere from a lifesize statue in the grounds of the Wawel the city's castle to photos of himÌýin every souvenir shop. Ìý

Tak Jest That's How it is.ÌýIf you're in Krakow the exhibition isÌýon until the 23rd May.ÌýÌý