Vessel

Primary Forms is a cyclical program for pupils at Polish primary schools. It has been carried out by the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw and the Roman Czernecki Educational Foundation since 2021. In each edition of the program a new set of artistic instructions, games, scores and objects are created and delivered to schools packed in specially designed boxes. These are used at the schools as a base for creation of artworks, art activities and exhibitions. Vessel was invited to be one of the contributors to the 2025 edition.

The Greek art group Vessel has written the rules for the Council—a gathering where you can share your ideas, dreams, and fears. The ceramic animal you’ll find inside the box was made by Maria Sánchez Alonso, a Spanish dancer and poet who lives on the Greek island of Aegina with her three cats. The person holding the object has the right to speak—they cannot be interrupted until they have finished speaking. That’s why the ceramic animal is called a “talking piece.” Inside the box, you’ll find detailed instructions on how to organize a Council meeting—read the rules aloud to ensure you understand each one.

Sit in a circle on the floor. Each session is preceded by a moment of silence, during which you sit with your eyes closed and calm your wandering thoughts. Then, you nominate the person who speaks first. Choose one of the questions found in the box, for example, what animal would you like to be? You can also ask your own questions —prepare them in advance and write them down on a piece of paper. Everyone tries to answer them, holding the “talking piece” in their hands. You can also pass the “talking piece” on to the next person without saying a word. When the session ends, thank the ceramic animal and each other for the time spent together. Perhaps your group will want to organize such sessions regularly.

Can art help us communicate?
Am I good at listening to others?
What is a collective?
Can things speak?
Can art have an impact on the world?
And on me? And on my friends?
Is it true that “speech is silver, silence is golden”?