Other Art in Poznan, Poland

There was another major exhibition on at the same time while I was in Poznan. It was held in the old slaughterhouse that stretched through several buildings over a huge lot. When I entered the building above with the cattle stalls the art pieces suddenly addressed their surroundings. This was one of my favourite pieces. In one of the cattle pens a small green pasture with a picket fence was erected. Instead of cattle you had "happy meat". The building itself was a work of art in other places. There were first aid people everywhere. In a room with white tile walls hung contemporary paintings. The open stage was also another major attraction. These two brothers were first up and were absolutely rocking on their accordions. Just a sample!

Exhibition: Poznan, Poland

This last weekend I was in Poznan, Poland, for a group art exhibition that hangs for the next month. The exhibition submissions asked artists to respond to the theme of "the pursuit of happiness". I arrive in Poznan by plane and take a bus and tram to get to the city centre. It takes me a moment to figure out which tram to get when I don't read Polish and trams are heading off in 4 different directions. After asking several people I finally make it to the old city square where the gallery is. The square is amazing and wraps around several cultural buildings in the very centre of it. One of these buildings is the Arsenal Gallery, pictured above, the largest contemporary gallery in Poznan. The opening is the night I arrive and the crowds start to gather outside for the formal speeches to open the month long exhibition. The guy on the treadmill is part of one of the pieces. This is my piece above. It is a large map of the world which is colour coded to match the key on the blue wall. It is a "map of happiness" according to studies of different countries and ranks countries from most happy to least happy. Upstairs in the gallery holds more work. Including sculpture and film. This one is a crowd favourite. A large interactive chocolate fountain (think "happiness")! Another one has 6 pumps and takes half an hour to inflate to view the art work. This is a great one. A strip tease in reverse. All you can see is are the clothes. The more that is taken off the less one sees! I spend the day after the opening wandering the streets of Poznan. I find a very crowded street and follow all the people. It turns out they were heading for a shopping district. The large cathedral on the right is the most detailed and opulent cathedral I have ever seen from the inside. The Calvary made a turn down the street I am on.

The Colours of Poznan

In the middle of Poznan, Poland, is the Market Square which draws tourists during the summer, students during the year, and locals all year round. Each restaurant has an outdoor patio area right in the square and service is not rushed at all. You are expected to take 3 hours for a meal if you would like.

There Are Renovations Even in Poland!

This one is for the Tk-Porter house! This flat was bought by Kasper, a friend of Sonia's. He was restoring the original details in the upper corner of one room. I loved the colours that were left when the plaster walls were stripped. Note the building on the outside still has bullet holes from the war. (click on the pictures to enlarge)