Politics of erasure. From “Damnatio Memoriae” to alluring void

The book "Politics of Erasure: From Damnatio Memoriae to Alluring Void" explores the concept of erasure within the realm of visual arts. It discusses how strategies of exclusion, annulment, and depreciation manifest in individual artworks, museum narratives, and urban environments. Additionally, the book delves into the methodologies of writing history, highlighting how the necessary virtue of synthesis sometimes devolves into a detrimental framework.

By examining these themes, the work not only showcases significant Polish art from the 20th century within a broader European context but also provokes a thoughtful analysis of the historian’s craft, contemplating its limits and potential. The notion of "politics of erasure," as referenced in the title, extends beyond a mere ruthless power struggle against dissent. Instead, it can serve as a tactic to broaden our understanding and reassess what is deemed visible and real. In resisting the dominance of the apparent, this approach seeks to extend the imagination’s reach, thereby engaging memory and intuition more deeply.

This text forms part of the "Conferences and Studies of the Polish Institute of World Art Studies," providing a profound insight into how historical narratives and artistic representations intersect.