Residents of Polish cities are increasingly becoming active participants in everyday life – they often transform their immediate surroundings and common urban spaces. There are also those who want to influence changes taking place at the level of local governments. The city belongs to them all. Transformations of urban spaces and changes occurring in cities at various levels affect both the residents' quality of life and the processes at the level of modern societies. Is this really the case?
- Are residents leaders of change with real agency?
- Perhaps someone else is responsible?
- Who listens to residents and talks to them?
- How to use the potential of residents wisely?
- How to cooperate in building sensitivity to the voices of social groups that are less visible in public discourse?
These questions are important in every city. However, they seem to resonate strongly in the post-industrial metropolis of Lodz, where the pace and scale of changes in the economy, social life and city fabric can be observed almost from day to day.
Guests of the University of Lodz will talk about the participation of residents in the creation and transformation of urban space from the point of view of urban planning, sociology and social participation. The exhibition of photographs by Aleksandra Wysokińska, in which the author draws attention, among other things, to the immediate surroundings of the inhabitants of Lodz constitutes the starting point for the conversation.
The motif of human interaction with the surrounding space – adapting to the environment and transforming it is an important thread in the photography by Aleksandra Wysokińska. Tenement houses, streets and courtyards, which she captures as willingly as many other photographers, are places where a large number of people live. Interesting spaces and fascinating artifacts are the work of people who make an effort to make the neglected surroundings a bit more friendly, cozy and simply nice. The aestheticization of space in this form gives it soul, deeply moves and fascinates the photographer
the description of the exhibition reads.
The discussion will be attended by:
Marek Krajewski who is a sociologist, Full Professor, employed at the Faculty of Sociology of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. He is the author of numerous articles on contemporary culture, art and cultural education, as well as books: Kultury kultury popularnej (2003), POPamiętane (2006), Za fotografię! (2010, together with R. Drozdowski), Są w życiu rzeczy… (2013), Incydentologia (2017), (Nie)nawidzenia. Świat przez nienawiść (2020). He is the curator of the AMS Outdoor Gallery (1998-2004) and the originator of the "Niewidzialne miasto" project (www.niewdzialnemiasto.pl). He is a co-creator of the programme promoting cultural education Bardzo Młoda Kultura and the Archiwum Badań nad Życiem Codziennym project (www.archiwum.edu.pl)
Mariusz Sokołowicz who is an Associate Professor at the University of Lodz, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Sociology of the University of Lodz. He is an urban planner-economist, who studies the economies of cities and regions and ways to improve the effectiveness of their functioning. Mariusz Sokołowicz is a city social activist and an author and editor of over 80 publications devoted to urban economics. He was a social co-author of the Piotrkowska Street Development Strategy for 2009-2020 and, as a local government official, he was responsible for its revitalisation. He is the Head of the Department of Regional Economics and Environment. In his academic work, he treats local government as the common good of all residents. He believes that one of the best things that has happened to Poland in the last thirty years is the decentralisation of power and its closer proximity to citizens. However, he notices that many things could be done a little better or a little faster in Poland.
Aleksandra Wysokińska who is a Doctor of Social Sciences, a resident of Lodz by birth and passion. She has been photographing the city since 2013, trying to document its changing face on an ongoing basis. She tries to immortalise seemingly less attractive places, pointing the lens at slightly inaccessible nooks and crannies, not only in the form of alleys and courtyards, but also abandoned buildings. During her photographic peregrinations, she tries to engage in dialogue with residents and build sensitivity to the voices of social groups that are less visible in public discourse. Aleksandra Wysokińska is an author of individual and group exhibitions, sociological and photographic projects as well as a winner of an artistic scholarship from the Mayor of Lodz (2021). Her works can be found in book publications such as "Grembach. Etnograficzny przewodnik po łódzkim osiedlu", "Fotografia i szaleństwo" and "Łódź. Miasto po przejściach".
The discussion will be led by:
Piotr Salata-Kochanowski who is a graduate of the University of Lodz (Political Science; Spatial Management). He deals with urban policy, marketing and graphics. He has been professionally associated with the Institute of Urban and Regional Development for many years. Its aim is to support local governments as well as regional and national authorities in the city management process. He is a social activist who is associated with urban movements. He runs a micro blog Miejskim okiem − Piotr Salata-Kochanowski.
Edit: Bartosz Kałużny (Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz)
The mission of the University of Lodz is to conduct reliable research and actively disseminate facts and research results so as to wisely educate future generations, be useful to society and courageously respond to the challenges of the modern world. Scientific excellence is always our best compass. Our values include: courage, curiosity, commitment, cooperation and respect.