Polish deConstruction (PdC) was a voluntary, non-profit organisation that acted as a platform for the creative Polish community in the UK from 2007 to 2009. The aim of the organisation was to create a positive image of Poles in the UK, at a time when most of the (negative) associations related to Polish construction workers. The organisation continued with a new team as Deconstruction Project from 2010 to 2013.
During my involvement in Polish deConstruction, from March 2008 to December 2009, the organisation grew substantially and made a significant impact on London’s cultural scene. In my role as co-director, I closely collaborated with Agata Smuzniak and Marzena Zoladz (founders of PdC), a creative and enthusiastic team, and a group of thirteen amazing volunteers. We managed a network of around 30 creative practitioners, 50 artists and 1626 newsletter subscribers. In two years, we realised 17 events and a further 6 in partnership with major Polish institutions including the Polish embassy and the Polish Cultural Institute. Our diversity of cultural events included exhibitions, artist talks, an art auction, a creative camp, an art speed 'dating' event and several networking meetings. The success of these events was reflected in the ongoing media coverage resulting in many articles (see below), and attracted an international crowd, thereby challenging preconceptions of the Polish community.
The archive demonstrates what Polish deConstruction achieved from 2007 to 2009, by showing articles written by the media, a list of all events and screenshots from the website www.polishdeconstruction.org.
For quick navigation, please use the additional links on the right.
Media Articles
An interesting and informative article about Polish deConstruction changing into Deconstruction Project:
'Beyond Polish community in London: about homeless photography and artistic deconstruction'.
Please click on the following images to read more articles about Polish deConstruction:
Dajmy Sobie Szanse |
Polish DeConstruction |
I Produce Your Space |
Sztuka Szuka |
Biznes dla Sztuki, Sztuka dla Biznesu |
www.polishdeconstruction.org |
Dekonstrukcja kilku mitow |
Polish deConstruction Launch Party |
Galeria Bezdomna w Londynie |
Oboz pracy tworczej |
Dom na zdjecia |
Jazz ze Wschodu |
Bezdomna, ale swiatowa |
Klub Filmowy w Cargo |
Ziggy Dust w Sypialni |
Wnikac coraz glebiej w siebie |
Drugie Zycie Bones'a |
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Events
19.09.2007 | Artist Talk 1 with Film Screening: Marzena Zoladz, Agata Smuzniak and Piotr Rozanski (at Ognisko Polskie) |
27.11.2007 | Artist Talk 2: Aleksandra Ostszewska, Anna Wawrzkowicz and Klaudiusz Zembrzuski (at the Waterloo Centre) |
18.02.2008 | Artist Talk 3: Ewa Lis, Damian Chrobak and Robert Rybicki (at Cargo) |
06.05.2008 | Artist Talk 4: Antoni Malinowski & Agnieszka Mlicka (at Cargo) |
14.05.2008 | Auction 'Business for Art – Art for Business' (at the Polish Embassy), in collaboration with the British Polish Business Club |
11.07.2008 | PdC Website Launch Party with presentation of work by Polish artists and music by DJ Vujazz (at Dogstar) |
07.07.2008 | Cargo Gallery Launch, Exhibition of paintings by Agnieszka Mlicka (at Cargo) |
22-25.08.2008 | Creative Camp: a weekend away for teambuilding and networking, with workshops in journalism, photography (photoshop), drawing, painting, a debate and discussion and many sport possibilities |
21.08.2008 | Theatre Play 'Orte' by Fieter (at The Foundry), in partnership with theatre group Fieter |
13-15.08.2008 | Photography exhibition 'The Homeless Gallery' (at the Shoreditch Town Hall) |
19-27.09.2008 | The First East-European Jazz Festival, organised and hosted by Jazz Café POSK in London in collaboration with Polish deConstruction |
23.09.2008 | Artist Talk 5 with Film Screening: film director Rafal Kapelinski (at Cargo) |
27.10.2008 | Artist Talk 6: The Shadows of the Space, by Justyna Chudzinska and Karolina Raczynski (at Cargo) |
17.11-13.12.2008 | Exhibition 'The Shadows of Space' by Justyna Chudzinska and Karolina Raczynski (at Cargo) |
07.12.2008 | SpeeD'ArTE: an artist networking event (at the Foundry) |
23+30.03.2009 | Polish Shorts 'Kinoteka', in partnership with The Polish Cultural Institute and Shorts International (at Cargo and Bar Kick) |
30.04.2009 | Every Last Thursday: Constructive Network, with Special Guest Zbigniew Colbecki (knowns as Ziggy, the dancing street cleaner from Chiswick (The Bedroom Bar) |
11-14.05.2009 | Polish Drama! in collaboration with The Bones Theatre, four days of theatre workshops, a workshop presentation, a film screening and a panel discussion (at POSK) |
28.05.2009 | Every Last Thursday: Constructive Network (at The Bedroom Bar) |
25.06.2009 | Every Last Thursday: Constructive Network (at The Bedroom Bar) |
30.07.2009 | Every Last Thursday: Constructive Network (at The Bedroom Bar) |
27.08.2009 | Every Last Thursday: Constructive Network (at The Bedroom Bar) |
24.09.2009 | Every Last Thursday: Constructive Network (at The Bedroom Bar) |
02-03.2010 | Painting Exhibition 'Ponglish for Beginners', organised by Stephen Campbell in partnership with Polish deConstruction (at From Space, Salford, UK) |
Website Screenshots
Below are screenshots of the PdC website from December 2009 (click on the images to enlarge).