The Warsaw Museum of Modern Art (MSN), opened in October 2024, featured the book "Gender Queer – Autobiography" by Mai Kobabe, which sparked many controversy. Law and Justice politicians accused the institution of promoting content incompatible with its museum mission and promoting sex ideology. Mr Kaleta commented powerfully on the matter, calling for a public discussion on the function of cultural institutions in shaping public awareness.
A book that divides public opinion
"Gender Queer – Autobiography" is an autobiographical comic by Mai Kobabe, an unincorporated individual who uses the alleged Spivak pronouns. The publication addresses issues of increasing up as a transgender individual and hard aspects of sex identity. The book's description highlighted its importance as an accessible and inclusive guide to transgenders:
"Gender queer is simply a very essential thing in this country. (...) The deficiency of medicalism, the perception of us only and exclusively by the prism of our trauma, the sensualization of our existence. We must besides commend truly super-quality, competent translation, which does not affect neutral forms and neo-zaims."
However, in social media, passages showing sexual illustrations were made available, which was met with criticism from conservative politicians and journalists.
Political response: questions about the mission of the museum
PiS MP Sebastian Kaleta accused Warsaw president Rafał Trzaskowski of having no control over the museum's activities. In his statements on platform X (formerly Twitter) he asked:
“Mr Trzaskowski – have you already fired MSN’s directorate for selling books that have nothing to do with the museum mission, but with the crazy ideology you are a supporter of?”
Sir @Smack_ – have you already fired the MSN directorate for distributing books that have nothing to do with the museum mission, but with the crazy ideology that you are a supporter of?
That's why they were the 700 million on MSN to brainwash children to advance sex change? https://t.co/zp6cFPEVdL
— Sebastian Kaleta (@sjkaleta) January 23, 2025
During the press conference Zbigniew Ziobro, leader of Solidarnej Poland, compared the costs of building MSN with the Museum of Modern Art in Budapest. The Hungarian facility, according to Ziebra, was not only cheaper, but besides won many architectural awards.
"A question for Mr. Trzaskowski why, since the museum was built, he did not aspire with this project... to these prestigious competitions... possibly it's about individual making immense money – to, in short, individual stealing giant money," Ziobro said.
Controversy around the function of MSN
The Warsaw Museum of Modern Art was emotional from the beginning. Its location in the centre of Warsaw, the advanced construction costs (PLN 700 million) and modern solids met with criticism of part of the public opinion. The fresh debate around "Gender Queer" reopened the debate on whether cultural facilities should engage in promoting awareness of sex identity and sexual orientation or stick to a more neutral mission.
What's next?
The debate on the book "Gender Queer" in MSN is just 1 of many examples of a broader discussion on the function of art, freedom of expression and limits of cultural acceptance. Should the Museum of Modern Art endure consequences for choosing controversial publications? Can it be a space for discussion on hard and dividing subjects? The answers to these questions will find the future of the institution and its function in the Polish cultural landscape.
More here:
Gender Ideology in the Warsaw Museum. “Mr. Trzaskowski – have you already released the directorate?”
