Karol Radziszewski presents a rich selection of Central and Eastern European queer archival materials from the collection of the Queer Archives Institute (QAI). The QAI, established by Radziszewski in November 2015, is a non-profit artist-run organisation dedicated to research, collection, digitalization, presentation, exhibition, analysis and artistic interpretation of queer archives, with special focus on the countries of the former Eastern Bloc. The QAI is a long-term project open to transnational collaboration with artists, activists and academic researchers. The Institute carries out a variety of activities and projects – from exhibitions, publications, lectures and installations to performances. The QAI/CEE exhibition also features Radziszewski’s paintings, photographs and video works.
 
According to Radziszewski, “post-socialist states, where many historical threads have been ruptured or, indeed, never actually emerged, are witnessing attempts to construct national identities anew and develop new narratives. History, including art history, is largely (re)constructed and sometimes manipulated depending on the current political conditions.” In his artistic practice, he takes special interest in strategies that provide possibilities to actively respond to these processes. Radziszewski is interested in reviewing history, rewriting it from his own perspective and complementing main narratives with neglected threads, with a particular focus on minority voices. His efforts towards queering and decolonizing history are founded on the archives that he acquires and studies.

Text courtesy of www.mg-lj.si.