Abstract
<jats:p>WHAT IS THE CONCEPT BEHIND CRICOTEKA? THE LOGIC OF THE ARCHIVE, THE BEING OF PERFORMANCE, AND THE PERFORMANCE OF BEINGThe article examines the concept of Cricoteka as a unique archive of Tadeusz Kantor’s work, one that goes beyond the traditional model of a documentary institution. The author points out that the concept of Cricoteka was conceived as a “living archive,” intended not only to collect materials related to artistic activity but also to preserve and transmit the ideas underlying Kantor’s work. In this context, the author reflects on the status of performance and the possibility of archiving ephemeral phenomena, such as theatrical events, happenings, or performative actions. The analysis covers various forms of Kantor’s work – from painting and art objects to theater – highlighting their shared performative dimension. The author interprets Cricoteka as a space in which the archive becomes a site of active meaning-making, rather than merely a repository of the past. In this view, the archive functions as a dynamic structure enabling the reactivation of artistic ideas and reflection on the relationship between documentation, memory, and the performative nature of art.</jats:p>