We invite authors of reportage, essayists, and cultural researchers who, through their stories, shed light on what is usually left on the margins—stories, experiences, and emotions hidden outside the mainstream narrative.
ON THE OTHER SIDE is a series of literary gatherings during which we explore the world together from a different, often unexpected perspective. It’s a space for discussing how we experience and interpret reality—both on a personal and social level. We ask questions about community, sensitivity, and meaning; we examine experiences that are difficult to grasp; and we seek new ways to talk about the world and ourselves.
The fall meetings will be an invitation to take a close look at reality—up close, from within, and inwardly. We will discuss the human condition in a world full of uncertainty and change, and the search for a home and a safe haven—both in a geographical and spiritual sense. We’ll reflect on how we experience space through our bodies, senses, and emotions. We’ll explore experiences that are hard to put into words: helplessness, sadness, grief, and loneliness. We will ask questions about meaning, community, and sensitivity—issues that the modern world all too often pushes to the margins.
PROGRAM
October 15, 7:00 p.m.
Ilona Wiśniewska: On Life Above the Arctic Circle
Ilona Wiśniewska is one of the most important contemporary reportage writers and a multi-award-winning author of books about the Far North. For years, she has been giving us a glimpse into life in places where day and night can last half a year—in Svalbard, Greenland, and northern Norway. She writes not only about the rugged landscape and daily life in these regions, but also about their complex cultural identity, including the culture of the indigenous Sami people. In her latest book, she takes us to Tromsø—the largest city in northern Norway, where time flows differently and the landscape seems to hold still, capturing our attention. Together with her, we’ll pause to reflect on what home, safety, and travel truly mean.
Ilona Wiśniewska is a reporter and author of books including *White: The Cold Island of Spitsbergen*, *Far Away: In Northern Norway*, and *People: From a Greenlandic Island*. She publishes in “Duży Format,” “Polityka,” and “Dwutygodnik.” She is a recipient of the Grand Press Award, the Crystal Card of Polish Reportage, and the Travelery Award.
November 19, 7:00 p.m.
Tomasz Stawiszyński: Helplessness and Fate—What Can We Influence?
Tomasz Stawiszyński—philosopher, essayist, and author. He tackles topics from which, as he himself writes, “the modern world often looks away”: grief, helplessness, fate, and powerlessness. These are key words that require us to pause, take a closer look, and situate them within our lives—especially today, in an age of haste and avoidance of difficult emotions. The event will be a literary and philosophical journey into our inner selves—and an attempt to answer the question of what we, as a society, are running away from and why it’s worth taking a closer look.
Tomasz Stawiszyński is a philosopher and essayist, author of, among other works, *Escape from Helplessness*, *What to Do Before the End of the World*, *The Return of Fate*, and a series popularizing philosophy (*The Owl’s Mission*, *An Encounter with Philosophy*). He hosts the program “The Philosophers’ Hour” on TOK FM, as well as the podcast “Skądinąd.” He is a regular columnist for “Tygodnik Powszechny.”
December 3, 7:00 p.m.
Jo Jurga: Responsible Design on Planet Earth
Together with Jo Jurga—a designer and educator—we’ll explore how we create the space that surrounds us. She argues that design is not just about aesthetics and function, but above all, responsibility. At the heart of her thinking is the awareness that the world and its resources are limited—fragile and requiring mindfulness. At the same time, she invites us to engage in sensory design—one that engages not only sight and smell, but also touch and other, less obvious senses. The event will focus on her latest book, *Hotel Earth*.
Jo Jurga – designer, innovator, and educator. She combines design, science, and technology, focusing on human needs. She is an analog astronaut and a two-time commander of space mission simulations at Habitat Lunares. She is a finalist in design competitions, a judge, and a podcaster.
PLEASE NOTE! Due to the intimate setting and limited seating, we invite you to join us starting at 6:30 p.m.
Organizer: Palma
Foundation Media partners: Trojmiasto.pl
The Palma Foundation’s projects on Jaśkowa Dolina Street are funded by the City of Gdańsk as part of the “Social Spaces of Culture” program.
