Frames of Time; The Vistula River in Kraków
Frames of Time is a series of works based on the juxtaposition of archival and contemporary photographs of urban spaces. The works establish a dialogue between past and present in the context of public space and the social interactions that take place within it. The spatial mode of presentation allows viewers to perceive the transformations that have occurred within the urban fabric. The interactive structure of the pieces reveals the passage of time depending on the viewing angle, exposing architectural and social changes.
The series focuses on the areas along the Vistula River as a space subjected to intensive urban transformations – from natural riverbanks and seasonal beaches to the regulated, canalised structure of the river as part of the city’s infrastructure.
Kraków – a city of layered history and extensive photographic documentation – becomes here a field of reflection on the human experience within urban space. A key historical reference point is the interwar period, marked by significant development in architecture, social life and intellectual thought. It was a time when Kraków’s inhabitants experienced a new quality of life; theatres, parks, beaches and other important public facilities were established, some of which still exist today. Over time, these places have acquired different meanings, while others have disappeared entirely from the city’s map.
As a dynamic organism undergoing constant transformation, the city continually redefines its character. This process may draw upon the past or introduce new elements and spatial qualities. An inseparable part of this transformation is the inhabitant – the individual who adapts to the surrounding environment, influences it and contributes to shaping its material form.
Frames of Time is a reflection on the city and the transformation of the individual – on the formation of collective consciousness through material changes in urban space.
Exhibited at the invitation of the Polish Society of Aesthetics.