Eksperyment form przestrzennych w Elblągu – niechciane dziś dziedzictwo PRL-u?

Abstract

Experiment of spatial forms in Elbląg – the heritage of the Polish People’s Republic no longer wanted?

The article addresses the issue of ‘metal heritage’, left by the 1st Biennale of Spatial Forms in Elbląg from 1965. This exceptional artistic experiment, consisting in the introduction of several dozen abstract metal sculptures into the space of a city ravaged by war, became a part of the authorities’ integration strategies of the so-called Recovered Territories with the rest of country. Today over 50 years have passed since those events, and the spatial forms are still present in the streets, squares, parks and tower blocks. Here an attempt is made to look at what is currently happening with this heritage by connecting different perspectives: art history, tourism and residence. The first part of the article presents a division of spatial forms into ‘composition groups’ and a brief evaluation of their current state. The second part presents a briefly revived discourse on the Biennale and attempts some new, subtle readings of those events and their present-day importance. These facts are compared with the activities of the heir to these forms – the city of Elbląg. A ‘reconnaissance’ of promotional campaigns is undertaken along with an analysis of the most important planning documents. However, the clues gathered do not provide a definite answer to the question on today’s specificity of the Northern Lands in the context of Elbląg – what is justified by virtue of the uniqueness of ‘metal fall’ throughout the Polish People’s Republic and what is its importance in terms of building the identity of city. On the one hand, it seems that the current owner of sculptures cannot cope with the challenge of what role the forms play in a new context with a meaning. On the other, the idea of open air sculpture, in the public sphere, communing with the neighbourhood, is still very much alive and well –thanks to EL Gallery and the new artistic events that have been organized.