Chapter Tadeusz Kantor in the Network of Texts

Overview & Synopsis

In his work Tadeusz Kantor referred to various types of texts. He used self-commentary and recontextualized his statements, also explaining his own works in various ways. The author describes what Kantor’s avant-garde style is. He focuses on borderline forms or statements which combine painting and literary creativity. In particular, the article looks at the ‘Definitions’ cycle, which consists of works on paper, Ideas and definitions, and Images-definitions, i.e. on a series of paintings (on canvas and paper) with texts on them. As shown by the author, Kantor’s painting, theater and literary works give each other a context, create a mutual network of intertextual relations. These connections are consciously created by the artist himself.