The Warta River. Exercises in Imagination

The Warta River. Exercises in Imagination

18.10.2024 - 23.02.2025

Rivers flow inside us. We often imagine them as water flowing through green lands or meandering through city architecture. In the age of thinking about changes, we would like to invite you to look at the rivers from a different perspective – to find their unchanging features and imagine new meanings for the future, to notice that the Warta River, which has flown in this area for thousands of years, encompasses particular beings, their self-agency, voice, dreams and heritage.

At the Śluza Gallery, which is in close proximity to the Warta and Cybina Rivers, we present a story about the elements that constitute the city’s main river. We take a closer look at the peculiarities of the river: historical buildings as well as contemporary works of art, which are the Warta River’s heritage. Using ecological, historic and social imagination, we present the recent history of the Warta River in Poznań. Although the decades from the 19th to the 21st century do not capture the whole history, they are crucial for the understanding of the river’s present-day condition.

It is said that history is the teacher of life. However, an even older and more experienced teacher is nature. The river reminds us about fluidity, regeneration and stability. Water can be our refuge. Unless it stops flowing itself.

Exercise your imagination. The river will guide you.

The Warta River. Exercises in Imagination- cover

Artists: Jadwiga Anioła, Katarzyna Bogusz, Anna Kędziora, Gosia Kępa, Linda Lemon, Cecylia Malik and Siostry Rzeki, Szymon Waliszewski

Institutions and persons lending their collections: Aquanet S.A., Polish Television TVP Poznań Archive, the Raczyński Library in Poznań, Poznań Municipal Historic Preservation Office, Bogusław J. Wosiewicz, Katarzyna Wala, the National Museum in Poznań, the National Heritage Institute, All Saints Parish in Poznań, Bono Serviamus Society, Polonia Rowing Society, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (the Museum of the Earth, the Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Natural Collection, the Faculty of Biology, the Faculty of Archaeology), Provincial Historic Preservation Office in Poznań, Business Activity and Agriculture Department at Poznań Municipal Office

Excavation of the river and peat profiles: Sambor Czerwiński, Iwona Hildebrandt-Radtke, Michał Jankowiak (conservation), Michał Kępski, Mariusz Lamentowicz, Karolina Leszczyńska, Jakub Niebieszczański, Witold Szambelan

Consultation: Ewa Domańska, Krzysztof Kasprzak

Curator: Michał Kępski

Arrangement and graphic design: Rafał Górczyński

Poster: Daria Mielcarzewicz

Editing: Olga Tarczyńska-Polus

Proofreading: Małgorzata Czopik

Translation into English: Dorota Piwowarczyk

Production and exhibition assembly:

Coordination: Anna Pikuła, Olga Tarczyńska-Polus

Organiser: Poznań Heritage Centre

Partner: The Regional Public Library and Culture Animation Centre in Poznań

Media patronage: Notes Na 6 Tygodni, Magazyn Szum, Radio Afera, IKS, kulturapoznan.pl

The exhibition is part of the main theme of the 7th Ireneusz Zjeżdżałka Wielkopolska Festival of Photography: Towards water