Jurek Owsiak, head of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, addressed the Bolesławiec case of the “topless clay figure” on his radio programme. It concerned proceedings against Monika Pacyfka Tichy, who in 2024 took part in the parade opening the Ceramics Festival as a clay figure, with her body covered in clay and without the upper part of her clothing, carrying a rainbow banner bearing the slogan: “We are all made of the same clay”.
– There was an element of provocation during the parade – said the mayor Piotr Roman at the end of the festival in 2024. – Unfortunately, some mothers with children had to cover their children’s eyes and turn their heads away, but I hope that the perpetrators will be punished. Please help if anyone has photographs of these actions – the mayor concluded his speech. As can be seen in the cover photograph for this article, the young woman captured in the frame was not covering the child’s eyes; in fact, we did not see any such situation and believe that the agitated mayor greatly exaggerated.
On 21 April, the District Court in Bolesławiec discontinued the proceedings against Monika Tichy. The reasoning stated that the defendant’s conduct did not violate moral standards, did not cause public outrage and was artistic in nature. The court also found no grounds to conclude that the offence under Article 140 of the Code of Petty Offences had been committed. The decision is not final.
Owsiak before the trial: “It is simply art”
On 20 April, Monika Pacyfka Tichy informed the istotne.pl editorial office that Jurek Owsiak had read out on his programme her email concerning the case scheduled for the following day in Bolesławiec.
Owsiak recalled that clay figures had also appeared at the festival in Kostrzyn. In his view, a body painted with clay, including in a topless version, is not sexual in nature but artistic.
– Clay figures look beautiful because it is a person covered with such beautiful clay, which smooths everything out and is so far removed from any sexual intention, even if that sex is represented by the fact that we are topless. No way. It is simply a beautiful sculptural figure. It is simply art – said Jurek Owsiak on his programme.
Owsiak also addressed Monika Tichy directly, suggesting that she invoke his words in court: – If you talk in the high court tomorrow, Pacia, say: “Jurek Owsiak clearly said on his programme: it is art” – he said.
The head of WOŚP also compared the accusations against the clay figures to the absurdity of covering up classical works of art. – It would be like covering up Rembrandt’s works. Rubens’s even more so – Owsiak commented.
On the programme, he also quoted the context of the case presented by Monika Tichy: topless clay figures had previously been accepted and even awarded in Bolesławiec, while the problem arose after people carrying a rainbow banner took part.
– It turns out that a straight clay breast is art, while a gay breast is an offence against morality – Owsiak read from Monika Tichy’s message.
After the case was discontinued: “art and freedom of expression”
On 27 April, Jurek Owsiak returned to the case on his programme. This time he read out an email from Monika Pacyfka Tichy, who informed him of the District Court in Bolesławiec’s decision.
– Dearest Jurku. A week ago I wrote that I was going to court in Bolesławiec. I had a case because I was a topless clay figure under a rainbow flag. You said I should convey to the high court that the clay figures are art, but it didn’t happen. The court didn’t even ask us anything – Owsiak read from the message.
At that point, as he admitted himself, he thought the case might have taken an unfavourable turn.
– And then I got a little frightened, personally. Oh Jesus, it didn’t ask anything. So what? Does that mean something was wrong? – Owsiak commented.
The rest of the message explained, however, that the court had discontinued the case as unfounded.
– But then Pacia writes: it only discontinued the case as unfounded, arguing that it was, listen to this, art, and that the Constitution guarantees freedom of artistic expression – Owsiak read out.
After these words, the head of WOŚP responded unequivocally: – So I said what the High Court said. A big round of applause! – he said.
Owsiak also stressed that the court’s decision was good news worth noticing amid the many negative emotions present in public debate.
– The judge said it beautifully. The Constitution allows you to smear yourself with paint, that is, clay, even when we are topless, because it is art. And you created art, and I didn’t have to say it; the judge said it. Let us be happy about that, my dear friends, rather than the stupidities – said Jurek Owsiak.
Monika Tichy commented on this humorously: – It’s nice that we could give him so much joy, and all thanks to the tsar who made empty jugs – she wrote to the editorial office.
This refers to the satirical fairy tale “The Tsar Who Made Empty Jugs”, prepared by Grażyna Hanaf for the 2025 Ceramics Festival. The fairy tale commented on the events of 2024, when an LGBT group carrying the banner “We are all made of the same clay” was removed from in front of the stage during the opening of the Ceramics Festival.
Court: it was not an indecent act
Monika Tichy’s case concerned events of 16 August 2024. During a parade in central Bolesławiec, participants appeared as clay figures, with their bodies covered in clay. Monika Tichy and Mateusz Machowicz, the other participant in the happening, portrayed the biblical figures Adam and Eve. They carried a rainbow banner bearing the slogan: “We are all made of the same clay”.
The District Court in Bolesławiec found that Monika Tichy’s conduct did not fulfil the elements of an offence. The reasoning emphasised the artistic nature of the event, the context of the Ceramics Festival and the long-standing tradition of the clay figures. The court also referred to the constitutional freedom of artistic creation.
After the decision was announced, Monika Tichy said she was pleased that the case had been discontinued and that it was important to her not only personally, but also as a matter of artistic freedom and equal treatment. In a conversation after leaving the court, she stressed that topless clay figures had previously been accepted and even awarded in Bolesławiec. In her view, the authorities reacted only when a rainbow banner appeared in the parade.
Owsiak and the clay figures – a story years in the making
Jurek Owsiak’s reaction was not accidental. The head of WOŚP has known the clay figures for many years. In 2008, Bolesławiec’s clay figures promoted Bolesławiec and Gliniada at Przystanek Woodstock. Owsiak invited them onto the stage and said: “I have never seen anything like this. Look how beautiful they look. Have fun with it!”. The istotne.pl report from that event also noted that one of the participants appeared topless.
A year later, on the occasion of the WOŚP finale, Owsiak again mentioned Bolesławiec and the clay figures. In an istotne.pl report from 2009, he said: “Greetings to the Clay Figures, but above all greetings to everyone organising the Orchestra Finale; greetings to all of Bolesławiec”.
This is important context because it shows that for years the clay figures had been treated as a recognisable form of promoting Bolesławiec, street art and the local tradition connected with ceramics.
The role of istotne.pl in the history of the clay figures and Gliniada
Let us recall that Krzysztof Gwizdała, editor-in-chief of istotne.pl, was the first to use the name “glinoludy”. The portal also helped create the first Gliniada events – parades of people painted with clay – which over time became one of the most recognisable symbols of Bolesławiec and the Ceramics Festival.
For several years, the istotne.pl editorial office also organised the Glina Show event. In 2023, the event was held as part of the Bolesławiec Ceramics Festival. The programme included preparations for the parade, body painting with clay slip, art workshops, bodypainting and the Gliniada parade of people painted with clay.
The istotne.pl portal also organised the Second Equality March during the parade opening the 2024 Ceramics Festival. It was then that Monika Tichy, as a clay figure, walked with a rainbow banner bearing the slogan: “We are all made of the same clay”.
The dispute over clay, bodies and the rainbow
Monika Tichy’s case became more than just proceedings concerning an alleged indecent act. At its centre was the question of the limits of art, freedom of expression and equal treatment of participants in the city festival.
In his programme, Jurek Owsiak put it plainly: for him, the clay figures are a form of art, and a body covered in clay is not a sexual message. The court in Bolesławiec took a similar view when discontinuing the proceedings: it found that the event was artistic in nature and did not violate public decency.
For Monika Tichy, Grażyna Hanaf and those involved in the parade with the rainbow banner, the case also has symbolic significance. The slogan “We are all made of the same clay” was meant to remind people that Bolesławiec – a city of ceramics – should be a place open to all residents, regardless of orientation, views or style of self-expression.
As Jurek Owsiak said before the trial: – Clay figures – beautiful art to think about.