Rising. Learning from the Past Today for Tomorrow

19th July – 15th September 2024

one exhibition two venues

one person one work of art

many wars one experience

What is the power of art and culture in times of (post)conflict? How do we preserve the city and social relations during the conflict, after experiencing the war, and while recovering from post-war trauma? How do we create the space for the human and nonhuman beings now, and maintain it for the future?

In the course of the international project “Rising. Learning from the Past Today for Tomorrow” we focus on the research and presentation of the impact that the war has on art, creative perspectives, everyday reality, and artistic activities. We are also interested in observing the transformations of the visual sphere and the soundscape of the city that follow traumatic events, war, as well as the reconstruction of not only architecture, but social relations as well.

The exhibition resulting from this project is presented in two institutions.

LAZNIA Centre for Contemporary Art hosts six works of six women artists: Anna Fiszer, Barbara Massalska, Teresa Pągowska, Alina Szapocznikow, Józefa Wnukowa, and Hanna Żuławska. They played crucial role in the development of art in the post-war Gdańsk, the reconstruction of the city, as well as the introduction of works of art into the city space. The exhibition architecture alludes to the scaffoldings which the artists had to climb, as well as to their physical effort. Each of the artists had a strong, exceptional personality. To some extent it was shaped by war traumas from which they recovered through art, colour and new forms which they introduced into the cityscape. The exhibition is not one of copies, but includes the original objects from museums and private collections. Among them are textile pieces, sculptures, and paintings which give testimony to the versatility and timelessness characterizing the production of these artists.

The second part of the exhibition is located in the Waterworks – the seat of the City Culture Institute. Its interior constitutes, in fact, an open public space, an extension of the city square and the historical Royal Route. It is human friendly, perfect for both leisure and co-working. Its spatial irregularities provide excellent opportunities for the presentation of art. The invited contemporary artists: Marek Płuciennik, Hanna Shumska, Florian Tuercke, Elizabeth Turrell, Anastasiia Vorobiova, and Mariusz Waras, created site-specific pieces in response to the challenge they had been given. Each of them, in their own unique way, faced the subject of the current migration crisis, the life and work abroad, human rights, or the emotions and memories of people who have experienced war. This part of the exhibition includes spatial installations, objects, ceramics, animations, and sound installations.

Both parts of the exhibition encourage not only discussion about local history, but also raise questions concerning the lessons we have learnt from the past, and our perspectives on the future.

Curators: Aleksandra Grzonkowska, Kinga Jarocka, Anna Szynwelska, Catia Viegas Wesołowska

Graphic design: Ania Witkowska

Language editing: Katarzyna Żelazek

Proof-reading: Izabela Zin

Translations: Marta Wróblewska

Production: Piotr Grdeń

Organiser: The CHMURA Visual Culture Foundation

Partners: LAZNIA Centre for Contemporary Art, City Culture Institute, Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk

financed by Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future (Stiftung Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft | EVZ Foundation) as part of “Local History” funding program