|
Pawel Hajncel organised a casting for a Pope in Lodz
Anka Lesniak, 2013-03-03
Inhabitants of Lodz, if you are without perspectives, disenchanted with life in our town, would like to emigrate, there is one job offer in Vatican! A golden throne, silver tray, a ring on your finger. Your own palace, car and a plane. Free food and lodging, possessions in the entire country! – in these words the artist encouraged passers-by to participate in his artistic action.
On February 25th 2013, three days before the abdication of Benedict XVI at 3 pm, Pawel Hajncel dressed in a cassock bought at a bargain price at www.allegro.pl showed up in a main pedestrian precinct with a megaphone in his hand and encouraged passers-by to participate in the casting for a new Pope. Everyone could participate in it – young and old, men and women, people of various religions and atheists. However, young people were preferred, so that they can cope with duties that await them.
Whether you are a student or a graduate, if you don’t have a job in Lodz, why don’t you leave for Vatican?! You are unhappy with your workplace? There is a vacancy in Vatican, use your opportunity. Plane for free, travelling for free, everything for free. Heads of countries are going to kiss your ring! White clothes, clean bed sheets, unrestricted working hours!
In order to participate in a casting, one had to try papal costume and sit on a “throne” which was a camp stool placed on the corner of Tuwima and Piotrkowska Streets.
Soon next to the artist there gathered a group of spectators and he was so tightly surrounded by microphones, photo and video cameras, that the action was blocked for a while. No one was courageous enough to take a risk that his/her face is going to appear in all mass media of Lodz and maybe even of the whole Poland. One man spoke up: I would have participated, but I would have been thrown out of work. A woman answered: Neither can I, I work at school. The same man: See how intimidated we are? We don’t even take the risk. One of the passers-by wanted to try to papal clothes but his wife stopped him... It’s not hard to understand her point – it is not about the diplomatic office in which they would have some job for a wife as well.
Finally, a first daredevil appeared, but he only tried the mitre. Some enraged middle-aged man started to shout to the artist: You are such a hero? If you are so brave, start mocking the Star of David or the Muslims!
When most journalists left disappointed, that there is no sensation, a candidate appeared – a young man, maybe a student. The candidate was first asked a series of questions, e.g. How much is half a million euro plus half a million euro, because as the artist argued – the Pope has to be able to add large sums of money. After answering the questions, the young man was dressed in papal clothes.
Some passers-by reacted unfavourably or with hostility, but there were two middle-aged women who were apparently amused by the entire situation. To the journalist’s question: Are you happy that the new Pope was elected? they replied: oh, yes! So young, handsome and a Pole again! Yes, a Pole again! – a journalist backed them up enthusiastically.
But the new pope did not stand the pressure of camera lenses being focused on him for long. He said he didn’t like it and that he decided to abdicate. His "successor" behaved in a different way – he was even younger because he was a high school student. He found himself in the role of the Pope, blessed the audience and sat on the throne. The action ended and the photos of "our" candidates, as Pawel Hajncel promised, will be sent to the conclave.
<<< back
|
