The artwork «The Painful Pyramids» was created during the 3nd Art Symposium (1993), the theme of which was «Art in Politics»
The work of award-winning Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz (1930-2017) is a lyrical expression of her existential quests and very often explores the impact of political regimes on citizens by creating metaphorical images with multiple perusals. “The Painful Pyramids” from 1993 are constructed with barbed wire often used in fences and prisons, contrasting the idyllic environment of the Sculpture Garden. Its looming presence urges the viewer to consider the contradiction of the factors which shape human behaviour and substance. The formalistic similarity of the pyramids metaphorically refers to the loss of identity and the effects of violence of totalitarian regimes, while the pyramid is a long-standing symbol of human evolution representing here the balance of humans and their harmonious coexistence with their environments.
