Piotr Voelkel – Fundning public art | Art in the City #9

Piotr Voelkel – Fundning public art | Art in the City #9

Piotr Voelkel is one of the wealthiest Poles, the founder of the VOX Group and owner of the best non-public Uniwersity in Poland - SWPS. But instead of sitting on a pile of cash like Scrooge McDuck, he’s busy trying to change the world. He puts up iconic buildings, educates designers, sponsors exhibitions and backs young talent. What role plays art in his life? Why does he keep placing art installations in public space – and who is unhappy about it? How can you start collecting art yourself? The project “Art in the City – a podcast about contemporary Polish art” is co‑financed from the funds of the National Recovery Plan under Investment A2.5.1.

Impossible architecture vs simple life - Jakub Szczesny | Art in the City #8

Jakub Szczęsny is an architect and artist best known as the author of the Keret House, often described as the narrowest house in the world. His work fuses radical minimalism with a deep reflection on historical memory and the social role of architecture. Szczęsny’s projects explore “impossible architecture” and treat space as a tool for social change. How do art and architecture shape cities and everyday life, and what does luxury really mean? Join us on a journey from Poland to Kazakhstan, Algeria, Austria, Spain and other corners of the world that Szczęsny holds dear. The project “Art in the City – a podcast about contemporary Polish art” is co‑financed from Poland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan under Investment A2.5.1.europarl.europa+1 [https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/pl/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)733665]

Redesigning Cities: Traffic Design | Art in the City #7

Traffic Design is a collective of people who care about making life in Polish cities better. How can that be achieved? For instance, by improving the aesthetics of urban spaces — replacing visual noise and chaotic signage with simple, well-designed lettering, bringing back neon lights, introducing art into public spaces, and creating murals.      Natalia Wielebska explains what is placemaking and why it’s good to listen to all parties — not only residents and city officials, but also developers and… spiritual beings.   >   https://trafficdesign.prowly.com >   The project "Art in the City – a podcast about contemporary Polish art" is co-financed by the National Recovery Plan under Investment A2.5.1.

M-City: A Global Street Art Icon from the Gdansk Shipyard | Art in the City #6

Mariusz Waras, aka M-City, is a world street art scene legend—he’s painted with Banksy at Leake Street Can Festival, designed the world’s most expensive rum bottle, and hungs out with Will Smith or Pierce Brosnan. Above all, he’s a versatile, consistent, and prolific artist. In his studio at the legendary Gdańsk Shipyard. We talk about art, cities, machines, fame, AI, old computers, the gritty realities of street art life, and travel adventures. Check out his work: https://www.instagram.com/m_city_mariusz_waras/ The “Art in the City – podcast about contemporary Polish art” project is co-financed by the National Recovery Plan under Investment A2.5.1.

Artivism - art in defence of nature – Cecylia Malik | Art in the City #5

Cecylia Malik is a painter, visual artist and environmental activist whose work has a tangible impact on public space, especially in Kraków. How did art help save a charming little spot from a developer’s plans? How do you become an “artivist”? And what makes artistic actions different from “ordinary” protests? We talk about Sisters of the Rivers, defending the Vistula and Białka rivers, the Water Critical Mass, and why it makes sense to climb trees in the name of protecting nature. Music: Sutari   https://www.sutari.pl/ The project “Art in the City – a podcast about contemporary Polish art” is co‑financed by the National Recovery Plan under Investment A2.5.1.