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The recent warm, and sometimes hot, days have naturally encouraged many of us to plan the upcoming May weekend. Looking out the window and at the thermometers, we are optimistic about these few (even five!) free days outdoors. Although of course the idea of a barbecue with friends and family gives positive vibes, it is worth focusing on new experiences and doing something special from time to time ;)
And when the May weather is favorable, bustling Gdańsk becomes a paradise for lovers of active leisure. However, the city can offer much more than just walks by the sea. Spring is also a perfect time to immerse yourself in the pulsating urban culture, and street art is one of the most exciting experiences.
Today I invite you to explore the city from the perspective of colorful street murals.
Photo: Rafał Roskowiński, Jacek Zdybel, Polska, 2016, Pilotów 16f
In Gdańsk, art is not limited to museums or galleries - the city streets themselves are a huge canvas on which artists express themselves and present their creativity. Wandering the streets, absorbing colorful paintings and abstract forms, you will immerse yourself in the world of extraordinary expression that enlivens many corners of the city. You will discover that despite its impressive and long history, the city is still alive and offers many surprises for those willing to look for them.
Murals certainly deserve special attention, an extraordinary form of art that has been winning the hearts of residents and tourists around the world in recent years. And although it has been present for several dozen thousand years, today it is wall graffiti that delights lovers of beauty. From nostalgic portraits to abstract compositions, these paintings not only decorate the walls of the city, but also tell its history and shape its character.
I'm sure you've seen originals or photos of Banksy's works, such as "Girl with baloon" or "Fraternal Kiss" by Dmitry Vrubel. And although Tricity's murals may not be that famous, they definitely deserve attention :)
Zaspa, one of the largest concentrations of apartment blocks in Poland, was initially intended to be a symbol of modernist visions of ideal urbanism. Located on the site of a former airport, the district attracted architects, offering unlimited creative possibilities. And although for many it became a model of a perfect residential complex, providing everything a resident needed to live, from the perspective of others it was a concrete labyrinth struggling with problems typical of this type of large agglomerations.
However, various cultural initiatives, such as the Monumental Art Festival, contributed to changing the appearance of the estate. Thanks to the huge surfaces of the walls of the blocks of flats and spacious alleys between the buildings, which create an ideal background for large-format paintings, Zaspa is regaining its identity.
Photo: Shai Dahan, USA, 2013, ul. Pilotów 6f
When I write a collection, I mean a real collection, because the number and area of the murals is really huge. The district boasts about 50 works by Polish and foreign artists.
One of them is a portrait of Lech Wałęsa by Piotr Szwabe, decorating the wall of the block where the Solidarity leader lived in the 1980s.
As we read in the guide:
“Pilotów 17 is one of the most important addresses of the opposition Gdańsk. This is where Lech Wałęsa lived with his family. When he returned from internment, a crowd of several thousand people showed up at Pilotów. The work was created precisely on the 25th anniversary of awarding Wałęsa the Nobel Peace Prize. The mural is a photo of Lech during his internment, enlarged to the size of the wall. Seen closely, it is ambiguous and not obvious. From a distance, this is an unmistakable image of the leader of Solidarity. The work became a swallow heralding the return of large-format painting to Zaspa."
Zdjęcie: Piotr Szwabe, Polska, Lech Wałęsa, 2008, Pilotów 17f
Personally, I like most those that refer to the history of the Zaspa airport, but also to the history of World War II and military operations in the air.
If you decide to visit the murals, I recommend reading the guide published by the Institute of Urban Culture: Collection of monumental paintings - Gdańsk Zaspa
There is also a map available to help you navigate: Foursquare City Guide
As an artistic objection to the war taking place beyond our eastern border, from March 2022, in the close vicinity of the Gdańsk Jasień PKM station, the largest outdoor gallery of anti-war murals in Pomeranian under the slogan "Solidarity with Ukraine" is being created.
Artists from Pomerania, Kraków, Lublin and Wrocław, as well as artists from Ukraine and Belarus studying at Polish art universities, created their works on the 900-meter PKM wall.
Photo: Anti-war mural at the PKM Gdańsk Jasień
If you want to see them, and I assure you that it is worth it, you should get off at the PKM Jasień railway station and walk a few dozen meters along the road along the tracks and the forest towards the PKM Brętowo station. Alternatively, park your car, e.g. near the Gdańsk Jasień reservoir, which will create an additional attraction and enable you to stay and actively relax in beautiful natural surroundings, especially appreciated by runners and roller skating enthusiasts :)
Photo: "No more time." Mural by Piotr TUSE Jaworski in Gdańsk
Gdańsk, and especially the district of Wrzeszcz, which is close to my heart, is decorated with murals/graffiti by Piotr Jaworski - TUSE, a popular and extremely active Gdańsk street artist. I am sure that after seeing a few of his paintings, you will recognize the others, as his style is truly distinctive, dominated by photorealistic portraits.
During my daily walks, I love watching Andrzej Zaucha and his Gdańsk fencers :)
Photo: Andrzej Zaucha - Mural by Piotr TUSE Jaworski in Gdańsk
Photo: Fencers - Mural by Piotr TUSE Jaworski in Gdańsk
If you are wondering how to spend a few free days during the upcoming May weekend (but not only that, of course ;)), I encourage you to spend at least one of them searching for and admiring the art around us. I am sure that Gdańsk will also surprise you positively in this aspect :)
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