Report: Openning of the Post - Industrial Revolution exhibition in Gdansk

Post – Industrial Revolution  project is nearing completion. The artists left Gdansk on Sunday. Kate and I are back in Birmingham too. It was hard to leave the shipyard, an area where nature meets culture,  where our artists were producing new art works for a month. Thirty-degree heat did not help to install the exhibition, but strongly encouraged our evening trips to the beach and sipping cocktails in one of the old town's cafes . We found time for both though. After a few days of installing we were ready to discuss  artists' works  during Thursday's talk, and to finally show their final products  during Friday's opening. Aliceson Carter and Matthew de Kersaint Giraudeau shown their works at Modelarnia, Louie + Jesse at the Kiosk. Both spaces are part of Wyspa Progress Foundation. The opening  gathered a nice bunch of people, which later transferred to Buffet, Wyspa's club. Currently artists and curators are gone but the exhibition is open until Sunday the 12 of June, from Thursday till Sunday (11:00 - 18:00), at two locations - Modelarnia and Kiosk. 

Alicson Carter, performance with Zbigniew Stefanski, Modelarnia,  2011

Alicson Carter, performance with Zbigniew Stefanski, Modelarnia,  2011

Alicson Carter, performance with Zbigniew Stefanski, Modelarnia,   2011

For the Post - Industrial Revolution Aliceson has developed a performative video piece paying homage to the Gdansk Shipyard.  By acquiring a boat, recording her journey, while playing shipyard songs, Aliceson has created a floating monument to the shipyard. With this piece Aliceson attempts to celebrate current and past production within the Gdansk shipyard as well as its origins as the birth place of the Solidarity movement. ‘My boat making and broadcasting of solidarity songs would be a homage, as an outsider, to the people & history of the shipyard’ – says Aliceson. The boat, now situated in Modelarnia accompanies a projection of the filmed voyage. During the opening night Aliceson in collaboration with Zbigniew Stefanski (Shipyard’s bard) recited shipyard songs with a twist.  Aliceson sang a new song she has written about the shipyard and regeneration plans for the Young city development plan to the tune of Shipbuilding by Elvis Costello/Robert Wyatt. 

 Matthew de Kersaint Giraudeau, installation, Modelarnia, 2011

Matthew de Kersaint Giraudeau, installation, Modelarnia,  2011

Matthew had developed an installation involving moving image, sound recordings and found materials from in and around the shipyard collected during his wanderings. Matthew describes Post-industrial landscapes as haunting - full of economic, political and ideological histories.  During his time in the shipyard he attempts to uncover these histories and connect them with a wider network of contemporary ideas. The installation takes the form of two video works and three audio pieces.  The audio works within this exhibition consist of headphones set within pile of debris (sand/dirt/rubble and other found objects).  Each audio piece is an interview with individuals Matt has met during his time in Gdansk, drawing on issues which have caught his interest such as the young city development, as well as stories from Wyspa Sobieszewska, the island on which Matthew was staying during the residency period.

Louie + Jesse, If we stop now, they will crush us like bed bugs, audiovisual installation, Kiosk,  2011

Louie + Jesse, If we stop now, they will crush us like bed bugs, audiovisual installation, Kiosk,  2011

Louie + Jesse have created a site-specific installation exploring the shipyard strike of 1970 and 1980. They are interested in the so called selective cleansing of history, how some areas are left as monuments and others (the messy elements) are demolished. They are interested in exploring the role of Alina Pienkowska in Shipyard’s strikes, an activist and nurse who became stranded in the clinic during the strike activity.  They researched a particular moment within the strike’s history, just before communication lines were cut off. A moment where Alina made a quick but vital phone call to Jacek Kuroń stating details of the strike including its demands. As a result information about the strike was relayed worldwide. It is an understated but significant moment within the shipyards history. Having acquired a kiosk space just outside Wyspa Institute of Art as a location in which to realize their artwork, Louie and Jesse have developed a site-specific installation. The installation appears to be a cross between a hospital room and a hotel room.  Their work draws on archival material about Alina but is also influenced by the recent young city developments and regeneration taking place within the shipyard grounds. 

Matt's daily reports from his Post-Industrial Revolution experience

Kate and I unfortunately had to head back to Birmingham leaving our artists in good hands of our project manager - Marta. Thus we can't keep you as much updates as we wish. Surprisingly Matthew turned out to be enthusiastic blogger.  You can read almost daily reports from his Post-Industrial Revolution experience in Gdańsk on his blog http://ashortdescriptionofmypoo.blogspot.com/

It was fascinating read for me. It is always interesting to read what people from other countries think about your country, and Matt has got a lot to say. I can't wait for more! 

Week one of residency

So it’s been a busy time for Post Industrial Revolution.  Roma and I embarked on the first of two-scheduled trips to Poland last week, initiating the second part of the project. We set off a little under the weather but powered through.  After a day of re -familiarising myself with Wyspa, Modelarnia and the shipyard,  as well as discussing practicalities with Marta and Roma we were good to go.

Two of the four British artists, Aliceson and Matt arrived bright and early Friday morning.  We then embarked on a busy day, dropping off artists baggage at the accommodation, beach frolics, and a spot of lunch followed by a trip to Wyspa.

                                                        Monument at Westerplatte

The following day we got all touristy and jumped aboard a ferry to Westerplatte, historically significant as the location were Germany invaded Poland on 1st September 1939, initiating the Second World War.  We visited a monument dedicated to the 182 Polish Solders who lost their lives defending the city, keeping the Nazi’s at bay for a staggering 7 days.   The ferry trip offered fantastic views of the shipyard from the water showing just how vast the Gdansk shipyard really is.  The afternoon was spent exploring the shipyard on foot, the highlight being Aliceson’s discovery of a huge polystyrene cube!  We are hoping to borrow or possibility rent this object for the exhibition.  After talking to Marta I discovered that scrap or discarded object in the shipyard can be borrowed or rented rather then taken.  I rather like this idea of loaning found materials.  Different parts of the shipyard are owned by different companies or individuals, so it’s just a case of finding out who owns the polystyrene.  The day was rounded of with dinner, an opportunity for the artists to meet different members of the Wyspa team and indulge in some tasty polish delicacies.

                                           Matt and Aliceson surveying the cube

                                                        Exploring the shipyard

Sunday involved an epic journey to a town called Puck to witness 400km, a project in which camper vans filled with artists and art visit small towns in the surrounding area of Gdansk.  We went part of the way by train and the remainder packed into one of the artist's camper vans.  Unfortunately upon arriving at our destination we were engulfed by a plague of mosquitoes! It was almost biblical.  The event was cancelled but we took it as an opportunity to explore the town.  We then stopped off for a beer in Gdynia, the second largest city making up the try cites of Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot.

                                          Louie and Jesse explore the shipyard


Monday marked the arrival of the artist duo Louie and Jesse. Their first day in Gdansk followed a similar formula to that of Matt and Aliceson's, the difference being we had the opportunity to explore the residency studio space within Wyspa and store room facilities.   This is where I came across our old friend Lech Walesa, this model of him was installed in Wyspa's gallery space during my last trip to the shipyard a year previously.

                                                        
                                           

After a trip to Modelarnia and more exploring we bid farewell  to our artists.  We will be returning to Gdansk in two weeks time to see how they're getting on.

British artists arrived to Gdańsk!

Gdansk Shipyard famously the “Cradle of Solidarity’’ and a key industrial site within Polish History shall play host to four emerging British artists intending to explore its heritage.

The Artists’ visit marks the final stage of Post Industrial Revolution, an artistic residency exchange developed between the UK and Poland focusing on the former industrial areas of Birmingham and Gdansk, in particular the districts of Digbeth and the Gdansk Shipyard.  

The artists from the UK has just begun the one month residency from the 5^th of May until the 5^th of June 2011, using it as a period for research and for the production of new art works directly responding to the Gdansk Shipyard, its historical and social context.  These newly create art works will be displayed in an exhibition at Modelarnia, a former industrial space, originally utilized for the building of model ships and part of the Wyspa Progress Foundation.  The exhibition will take place from Friday 3rd until Sunday 12th June.

British artists taking part in the residency are louie+jesse (Jessica Mautner, Louie O’Grady), Matthew de Kersaint Giraudeau and Aliceson Carter.

 

The comparisons between Digbeth and the Gdansk Shipyard as post industrial sites are of significance, each city has at some stage been deeply affected by the demise of industry, its movement abroad, and more recently the development of cultural and leisure industries in these former industrial areas.  Co-curator  of Post – Industrial Revolution Kate Pennington – Wilson outlined ‘The focus of this residency exchange is for artists to develop work which responds to these environments, reflecting this shift in usage as well as the change in social, political  and industrial history of such spaces’.

Modelarnia

Here's a sneaky peep at Modelarnia the space artists will exhibit work at end of the residency period.  

As an artistic structure Modelarnia functions as a collaborative of artists and is a non-profit organization, based within Wyspa Progress Foundation. Modelarnia joins the functions of studio space with exhibition space. In its past programme events have had a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary character. This space hosts meetings and events with artists, art theoreticians lectures, curators and acts as a residency space for artists. Moderlarnia has staged concerts and performing-art shows as well as a Festival of Young European Cinematography.  

Modelarnia is not at white cube, but rather a more industrial, open plan area spanning 400 m2, Modelarnia roughly translates as 'the place where model ships are constricted'  giving you an insight into its history.

SHIPYARD IN THE EYE OF THE GUARDIAN

Marcel Theroux and Shehani Fernando, from The Guardian, carried out a brief report about the art scene in Gdansk, Wyspa and the resistance and anti-regime movements in the late ’80s. The feature falls into the New Europe, conducted by The Guardian mini-series of stories about the new European Union countries. Watch it here. 

BUY YOURSELF WYSPA!

Wyspa is raising funds to buy the building they are renting in order to continue and further develop their activities. They will not be able to raise the required quota by yhemselves in such a short time but the task is achievable given our commitment together. Everyone can influence the further existence of Wyspa in the former Shipyard area.

Since 2004 Wyspa have been in the grounds of the former Gdańsk Shipyard, and since 2007 they have been renting the building from the current owner, the BPTO. The moment is propitious for them to buy the building at a preferential price. However they can only do this within a very short time. Wyspa enjoys a good reputation thanks to the artistic activities, which create a dialogue between the fields of art and political reflection.

In 2010, Wyspa initiated the two-year-long International Art Festival – Alternativa, which is opening new perspectives on the cultural map of Gdańsk, and we are also supporting Gdańsk’s candidacy for the European Capital of Culture 2016.

In the course of our seven-year-long activity on the grounds of the former Shipyard area, they have put a great deal of energy into improving the condition of the building. That’s why they are so connected with this area. That’s why they would like to stay there.

The environment of the former Shipyard area, so full of historical and social emotions, has inspired artists for years. Wyspa, apart from its exhibitions, discussions and workshops, is conducting an international residency programme, a multi-media archive and a bookshop. Their research activities into issues of contemporary artistic culture are also geared towards cooperation with local inhabitants, who, like Wyspa, constitute part of the community in the district of Młode Miasto [the Young City]. The new district should have its own places of culture. Wyspa has been recognised and praised, not only in Poland but also in the international arena, which has helped to build the positive image of Gdańsk as a vibrant centre of contemporary art.That’s why they need your help!

The Wyspa Institute of Art public collection is being conducted with the agreement of the Ministry for Internal Affairs and Administration and with the understanding of the owner of the building, the BPTO.

Special bank account number for the public collection:

PL 26 1020 1811 0000 0402 0156 1414

Bank PKO BP SA III O/Gdańsk

SWIFT CODE: BPKOPLPW

Bank transfer details:

Fundacja Wyspa Progress

ul. Doki 1 budynek 145B

80-958 Gdańsk

Donate by Pay Pal 

They will keep you up to date on the subject of how the collection is going on their website. People and organisations that wish to be named among the acknowledgements on Wyspa's website are asked to confirm this fact by sending an email to ola.grzonkowska@wyspa.art.pl stating your full name or the name of the company together with attached proof of payment.

Only Solidarity and Patience will Secure our Victory

We are approaching the second part of our project - a residency in Gdansk! This is so exiting!

In the meantime a part of Gdansk visited Digbeth!

A billboard 'Only Solidarity and Patience will Secure our Victory' depicting strikes from the Gdansk Shipyard hang on the wall above the entrance of Eastside Projects. The billboard is a work by an artistic collective 'Slavs and Tatars', and it forms part of a multiplatform project '79.89.09', that re-imagines an Iranian Polish solidarity, constructed in equal parts through archival research and original work. The project looks at three key dates:1979 (the Iranian Revolution), 1989 (the collapse of communism) and 2009 (the financial crisis). Along with the billboard artists prepared a publication as well as an installation of river bads and an Iranian and Polish book archive. 

Exhibition is open until the 16th of April 2011. 

Socio-political changes in both cities

David Miller, factory, Digbeth 

Birmingham has developed significantly through the Industrial Revolution, therefore, has a reputation of a working-class city. Trade unions were created in Graet Britain in 1824 and became popular during the Industrial Revolution in many countries. Both, the Gdansk Shipyard, and Digbeth, were not only important industrial centers, but also witnesses of socio – political changes. Archive footage shows Digbeth, as a place where closing of factories, anti-fascist marches, and worker's strikes were taking place, due to recession, unemployment, demise of industry, and  its movement abroad. In Gdansk, Strikes which were held in the shipyard 30 years ago by the 'Solidarity' (the first independent trade union in the Communist bloc), helped to overthrow communism in the Central - Eastern Europe.

 Digbeth related footage you can find here:

http://www.macearchive.org/Media.html?Title=28292

http://www.macearchive.org/Media.html?Title=28329

http://www.macearchive.org/Media.html?Title=2555  

http://www.macearchive.org/Media.html?Title=23030 

 http://www.macearchive.org/Media.html?Title=1048  

 http://www.macearchive.org/Media.html?Title=15675

The future of Digbeth

Both Gdańsk and  Birmingham have  large post-industrial areas near  city centers. In Gdansk it's the Shipyard, in Birmingham - Digbeth.  Both cities plan to extend existing city centres developing those areas.  Questions such as: what do we do with all these warehouses and factories? Should we break them down or leave?Should we save the old urban structure, or start from the scratch?  are current  in both cities. 


What will be the future of Digbeth?  'The Big City Plan' (arguably the most ambitious and far-reaching development project in the UK)  aims to enhance the character of late 18th and 19th century transport engineering and to preserve the industrial character of the district (read more here). In October 2009 Ikon Eastside hosted a panel discussion about Digbeth and Eastside's future development.  They were also showing some archive footage from Media Archive for Central England. Click  here  to listen to a recording, view pictures and watch the footage.  

See our new fantastic website !

We are very pleased to announce the launch of our new website:  http://postindustrialrevolution.eu
 You can find there some amazing photos of the Gdansk Shipyard by Michał Szlaga and of Digbeth by David Miller .  Keep your eyes peeled for Polish version soon! 

Our venues: Wyspa Institute of Art (ISW), Gdansk

 Health and Safety exhibition, 2004

 

Peryskop:Joanna Rajkowska exhibition, 2009

Since September 2004 the former Basic Shipbuilding School in the grounds of Gdańsk Shipyard, has been the home of the Wyspa Institute of Art, run by Wyspa Progress Foundation.  The space was founded by curator Aneta Szylak, and artist Grzegorz Klaman, whose long-term involvement in the groundbreaking, alternative and politically involved Gdansk art scene bore fruit to an innovative artistic organisation combining the presentation of contemporary art with deliberations on the shape of social culture. Its character and programme comes from site specifity, its history, haritage, but also its planned future. The ambition of Wyspa Institute of Art is to stimulate intelectually through exhibitions, talks, screenings, workshops and debates. Wyspa is also very well known nationally and internationally.

 

In close proximity to Wyspa Institute of Art there is another space run by Wyspa Progress Foundation - Modelarnia, which is more of a studio and project space.

 

Modelarnia

History - Gdansk Shipyard

 

Gdansk, formerly Danzig, has a diverse and complex political and social history due to various spells of occupation, self-rule, and periods as a free city. The invasion of the free city of Danzig on 1^st September 1939 marked the beginning of the Second World War. Following the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of WW2 in 1945 the city became Gdansk and was once more part of Poland. However as Poland was freed from Nazi occupation by the USSR, under its influence the country became a communist state, against the wishes of a large proportion of the Polish population. It remained a communist country until the fall of communism in 1989.

Today Gdansk it is better known as a “Cradle of Solidarity”. Solidarity was the first independent trade union developed within the Eastern Bloc, providing the first indication of the fragility of Communism, prior to its fall. In the last few years, Gdansk Shipyard has also become the most recognisable place embracing the Gdańsk artistic scene through the artistic adoption of its dilapidated buildings.

The devastated brick production buildings and streets have become protagonists in films, they

have been photographed and serve as the scenery for theatrical productions, while the industrial noises have been utilised by many musicians. Aside from Wyspa Institute of Art other innovative artistic organisations with in the district include the studio venue ‘Artists’ Colony’ and the artist led space ‘Modelarnia’. The current regeneration and revitalisation of the shipyard has unfortunately led to the demolition of a number of sites housing other creative organisations, the Znak Theatre, Aku Gallery, and the Pattern Room.