Happenings of The Orange Alternative Movement as an Example of Surrealism in Poland in the 1980s

Abstract

This text is a contribution to the state of research on the surrealist dimension of the actions and verbal messages of the movement known as the Orange Alternative. The author outlines the role of happenings and their artistic and contestation dimensions, as well as showing the links with surrealism. A special dimension of contestation was given to it by the founder of the Orange Alternative movement in Poland – Waldemar „Major” Fydrych, highlighting the essence of the happening's verbal message. The text includes references to the inspiration of Max Ernst's Collages and André Breton's Manifesto of Surrealism as inspiration for the programmatic activities and verbal messages of the Orange Alternative that are part of the examples of happenings presented here from the beggining of the 1980s to the decline of the movement's activity. The actions of the group created by Waldemar „Major” Fydrych are part of the current of socialist surrealism, reflecting the essence of the changes taking place in Poland by the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. At the end of this text one can find a reflection on the artistic legacy of Major, who is recognised as one of the world's most important surrealists.