Friday – 30.09, 20:30, Kino Nowe Horyzonty
All meetings are conducted in Polish
After more than an hour of an intense journey through the interiors of five buildings and the stories of the people who inhabit them, we will pause for a discussion about the difficult post-socialist heritage, which, despite many ideological objections, continues to captivate us with its form. These buildings were built to impress, to celebrate modernity and attention to decor, but also, most importantly, to entertain and to serve the daily life of communities.
Referring to buildings from Bucharest, Belgrade, Berlin, Moscow, and Sofia, we will reflect on various policies towards architecture so strongly marked by the time when it was created, the realities of the time, and the ideology practiced back then. At the same time, we will look at the extremely intricate, ever-changing tactics regarding the preservation or restoration of architecture that bears witness to certain eras and aesthetic tendencies, while leaving alone, demolishing, and marginalizing buildings that carry different history, in hopes of erasing the memories associated with those times.
We will also ask ourselves how should we feel about socialist realism and the legacy of communism that surrounds us. It is particularly tricky today, because of its links to the Soviet Union, where Russia was the dominant player. Ideas, policies, and tastes are fickle, while architecture is eternal – so what should we do about it? How do we deal with this feeling?
The conversation will accompany the screening of films „Palace for the People”.
Free admisssion.