Andrzej Partum / *Frekwencje z opisu* / Warsaw 1961 / self-published / paperback / p. 44 / in very good condition, with a crease on the cover
Andrzej Partum’s debut poetry collection, self-published.
This piece bears a dedication by the author.
A rare example of early Polish samizdat; the book was created and distributed outside the official, state-controlled publishing system. It stands as one of the earliest examples of independent publishing activity in postwar Poland, predating the development of the proper underground publishing scene.
Andrzej Partum was a poet, composer, performer, author of manifestos, and one of the most uncompromising representatives of the Polish neo-avant-garde. His work combined poetry, music, visual arts, and conceptual art, while consistently eluding official cultural institutions.
The poems in this volume break down traditional structures of meaning and grammar, employing unexpected word combinations and observations of simple mechanisms, such as a clock or a radio. The publication draws on the Dadaist and Futurist traditions, foreshadowing the author’s later interests in concrete and visual poetry.
At the end is the author’s “Attendance Sheet from the Description”—a poetic manifesto and commentary on his creative method, emphasizing the reader’s active participation in the process of creating the work’s meaning.
