Gdansk Shipyard - the place where Lech Wałęsa led the strikes that brought about the fall of communism and Poland's transition to democracy - is now undergoing another transformation. Private developers are turning the site into new housing estates and business spaces.
Adriana Majdzińska, an artist and professor at the Gdańsk Academy of Fine Arts, runs an art atelier called WL4 at the shipyard together with her husband, sculptor and ceramicist Dr. Czesław Podleśny. She hopes this will help preserve the site's cultural and historical legacy. Podleśny himself creates his human-shaped sculptures from rusting ship parts.
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"WL4 is a group of independent artists not affiliated with any institution, for whom art is the paramount value. Our circle includes both established artists and those just beginning their creative journey, working across different fields of art. Our diversity is our strength," reads a statement on the Art Space's website.
The initiative has organized exhibitions, symposiums, workshops, concerts, and performances. Among its guests was Lech Wałęsa himself - Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former President of Poland.
However, Polish developer Develia has signed an agreement to purchase the plot where the collective is based and to build 3,000 apartments, leaving the artists worried that WL4 could eventually be forced to leave the site.
"Of course, we hope and expect that the new owner, a major Polish development company, will be favorable toward culture and art. But that might not happen, and in that case, we'll have to leave this place," Adriana Majdzińska, a professor at the Gdańsk Academy of Fine Arts and co-founder of WL4, told Euronews.
Piotr Grzelak, Gdańsk's Deputy Mayor, stresses that WL4 plays an important role.
"I can't imagine shaping this part of the city without preserving its heritage and spirit of solidarity, or the shipyard as a whole - it's also a competitive advantage for an investor. WL4 is a gallery that's exceptionally important for how this part of the city functions," the official told Euronews.
A PR agency representing Develia says it's too early at this stage to comment on the future use of individual buildings, while assuring that the company will work with local authorities in a way that respects the area's character and history.
Grzelak notes that dialogue should be part of the solution - just as it was during Poland's transition to democracy.
