Miłość gallery presents its inaugural show, Let’s make miłość, exhibiting the works of six Polish artists – Alicja Biała, Maja Janczar, Gosia Kołdraszewska, Jan Możdżyński, Zofia Pałucha and Patryk Różycki – and opening the doors to its Haggerston space for a private view on 3 October. 

Let’s make miłość is an introduction to miłość’s programme – an exhibition focused on Polish art that sits in opposition to the status quo and examines the oppression imposed by normativity, in the context of Polish and Eastern-European culture. The works, ranging from paintings to etchings and sculpture, explore oppositional experiences – experiences of navigating oppression and liberation, of love, care and compassion. The artists create in the contexts of Polish Christian hetero-patriarchy, while highlighting oppositional histories and re-examining relationships with heritage, nature, home, queerness, and femininity.

With many of the artists exhibited in the UK for the first time, miłość aims to present a cultural niche, often misinterpreted, stereotyped and fetishised in the west. The artists take charge of the presentation of Polish culture, contextualising it with their personal experiences, storytelling and satire. In opposition to domination, according to bell hooks, stands love, and while confronting histories and experiences of violence, the artists find tactics of resistance, love and liberation.