Video Country Focus: Poland - Far too many stories to fit into so short a programme

During their residency in Poland in 2019, the Dutch artist duo Bik Van der Pol made a project on the collection of one of Warsaw’s important art centres, the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art. The title, Far too many stories to fit into so small a box, referred not only to the museum itself but to all the stories of people connected to the collection. These stories are inextricably part of its history. As well as “all the excitement, anger, frustration and memories,” adds Bik Van der Pol. Bik Van der Pol are guests in our Country Focus: Poland programme.

In this online programme, we are offering a glimpse into the current conditions of the Polish cultural sector. Into stories, excitement, frustrations and hope in Poland. Because there are many of all these, right now. We start with an overview by Polish art critic Karolina Plinta, who will tell us about some key characteristics of the sector. Three stories will follow her introduction. Małgorzata Ludwisiak, curator and former director of the Ujazdowski Castle, had to leave her position under unclear circumstances and found her new purpose far from the capital. Grzegorz Reske, a theatre director from Lublin who has been working in the Netherlands for six months and therefore has fresh experiences and views on the differences between the performing arts sector of the two countries. And finally, Bik Van der Pol will tell us about their work and subjective perception of the Polish art scene.

More information about the programme