We invite you to a series of events inspired by nonfiction books that explore themes of identity, landscape, regionalism, and architecture. The following authors will be visiting Wrzeszcz: Grzegorz Piątek, Jarosław Kurski, Kora Tea Kowalska, Stasia Budzisz, Zbigniew Rokita, and Filip Springer.
We invite you to a series of events inspired by nonfiction books that explore themes of identity, landscape, regionalism, and architecture. Together with the authors, we want to discuss what has shaped our identity—on both a micro and macro scale—and how.
We also want to highlight the role of contemporary literature in shaping the debate on the socialand cultural changes taking place in Pomerania, as well as throughout Poland; we want to explore the role of writers in this process, and discuss how to deepen understanding of the history and changes occurring in our immediate surroundings.
Wrzeszcz—home to the Palma Foundation—as well as Gdańsk, a city with a rich and complex history, is an excellent starting point for discussions about contemporary identity in Poland.
PROGRAM
November 6, 6:00 p.m. | Grzegorz Piątek – The Other Side of Architecture
A discussion about architecture, its functions, and the books *Starzyński: The President from the Monument* and *The Promised Gdynia: City, Modernism, Modernization, 1920–1939*, as well as “The Best City in the World: Warsaw’s Reconstruction, 1944–1949”
Architect, critic, and architectural historian. His latest book, *Gdynia Promised: City, Modernism, Modernization, 1920–1939*, has earned him numerous honors: Polityka’s Passport Award in the literature category, a nomination for the Gdynia Literary Award 2023 in the essay category, and the Readers’ Choice Award at the “Nike” Literary Awards in 2023.
November 13, 6:00 p.m. | Jarosław Kurski – On the Other Side of Identity
A discussion centered on the book *Dziady i dybuki* about Poles’ discovery of their Jewish identity, as well as how to talk about it in contemporary Poland.
He worked for the Spanish news agency EFE and for *Tygodnik Gdański*. He is the author of the book *Wódz* about Lech Wałęsa, for whom he served as a spokesperson, as well as essays on Raymond Aron and a biography of Jan Nowak-Jeziorański. He has been a columnist for *Wyborcza* since January 1991 and its deputy editor-in-chief since 2006.
November 20, 6:00 p.m. | Kora Tea Kowalska – On the Other Side of Objects
A conversation about the book *Look Under Your Feet: On Collecting Things*, about seeing the past in objects and how they allow us to reconstruct fragments of everyday life
Archaeologist and cultural studies scholar, university lecturer. She specializes in the theory and practice of collecting. A collector of discarded and unconventional items, an expert on a TV show about antiques and collectors, and the creator of the @odrzeczysklad website.
November 27, 6:00 p.m. | Stasia Budzisz – On the Other Side of Kashubia
A discussion about the book *Welewetka*, focusing on how the Kashubian heritage is preserved, how the Kashubians function within the context of Poland, and how they are perceived in political and cultural terms
She writes for OKO.press, Krytyka Polityczna, Nowa Europa Wschodnia, and Przekrój. Her work focuses on the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, and Kashubia. In 2023, her second book of reportage, *Welewetka: How Kashubia Is Disappearing*, was published. In this book, she turns her gaze toward Kashubia, the land of her childhood.
December 11, 6:00 p.m. | Filip Springer – On the Other Side of Polish Spaces
A discussion centered on the books *The Gray Hour: Time for a New Architecture* and *Mein Gott, How Beautiful* about how landscape and public space shape the narrative of everyday life
Reporter and photographer. Author of books on space and architecture. Recipient of fellowships from the National Center for Culture and the Ryszard Kapuściński “Herodot” Foundation. Nominated for the country’s most prestigious literary awards. His books have been translated into English, German, Russian, and Hungarian.
December 16, 6:00 p.m. | Zbigniew Rokita – On the Other Side of the Vistula River
A discussion centered on the books *Odrzania* and *Kajś* about the changes that took place in northern Poland during the postwar period, as well as the prewar history behind them.
Reporter and editor specializing in issues related to Eastern Europe and Upper Silesia. His book *Kajś. A Story of Upper Silesia,” received the Nike Literary Award and the Nike Readers’ Choice Award, and was nominated for the Angelus Central European Literary Award, the Ambassador of New Europe Award, and the Witold Pilecki International Award.
All meetings begin at 6:00 p.m.
Due to the intimate setting and limited seating, we invite you to join us starting at 5:30 p.m.
Organizer: Palma
Foundation Media partners: Trojmiasto.pl, Radio Gdańsk
Co-funded by the City of Gdańsk
