The cheapest dentures, the ones covered by the National Health Fund, are made of acrylic teeth. My grandparents had them, and they were left as embarrassing souvenirs (observation: don’t bury dentures with the deceased, especially if the body is cremated). With a person, they form a hybrid, especially when the dentures are attached with titanium screws. Real teeth are used to identify bodies, and before death they can hurt so much that the person would rather be dead. “Kiss” is about a metaphorical situation where loved ones hurt each other. They form a dysfunctional relationship that results in a bizarre interdependence. The greater the pain, the greater the addiction, the desire to meet the other person’s unrealistic expectations, to cross the boundaries of one’s own wellbeing. As hard as it is, the only way out is to back off, say “Stop,” and take care of yourself.

The work comes from the series “Gossip”, so, indirectly, it concerns situations where gossip hurts. You can learn who someone is from how they talk about others. Gossip is a strange human custom, perhaps evolved from mutual grooming, building social networks. Although it evokes a sense of temporary closeness between those who share information, it is harmful to the overall community in which it occurs.

Wiktoria Kozioł