Why poetry?
Why poetry? is a space for meetings and reflection on poetry—its role, power, and presence in the contemporary world. Literary scholars, poets, activists, graphic designers, neuroscientists, and film directors have been invited to speak, seeking to answer questions such as: why poetry today? What does it contribute to our lives? How does it influence the imagination and the body? How does it resonate with social changes? And how does it stand out from other artistic forms of expression?
Each statement is accompanied by original visual and typographical work prepared by students from the Sisters in Type research group at the Faculty of Graphic Arts, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Six mini-publications will be created, premiering at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art and then distributed to libraries, community centers, art schools, research centers, and schools, where they will be available free of charge.
The first talk will take place during the Nobody Reads This: Art Book Fair. It will include a talk between Julia Fruba and Jan Sowa about publishing; a presentation by Julia Fruba on using typography for rebellious and identity-building activities (Solidaryca, the shipyard script, the "Strajk" font); and a guide/suggestion on how to resist the drive for productivity through typography and poetry, as well as a collaborative stamping of words and phrases.
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Jan Sowa
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(born 1976) is a dialectical-materialist theorist and social researcher. He holds a PhD in sociology and a habilitation in cultural studies. He has conducted research and lectured in Poland and abroad, including at the University of São Paulo, the Academy of World Arts in Cologne, and the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He co-founded the Ha!art publishing house and the Goldex Poldex Cooperative. He also worked as a journalist for Polish Radio and as a curator at the Bunkier Sztuki Gallery in Krakow. From 2016 to 2019, he was a member of the Committee on Cultural Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and from 2018 to 2019, he curated the discursive program and research for the first edition of the Warsaw Biennale. He currently works at the Faculty of Artistic Research and Curatorial Studies of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. He is the author and editor of more than a dozen books.
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Julia Fruba
- (born 2003) is a third-year student at the Faculty of Graphic Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Her main areas of interest include book design, intermedia graphics, and painting. She develops her skills in the Book Design and Digital Publications and Illustration studios, creating projects that combine typography, image, and narrative. In her creative practice, she focuses on gesture, tool marks, and the energy of process. She places particular importance on materiality and the process of creating works in the typesetting and graphic arts workshops.
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The project was co-financed by the City of Warsaw through a targeted grant from the Staromiejski Dom Kultury [Old Town Cultural Centre]. The publications were made possible thanks to the support of the paper distributor Europapier and the Klimiuk printing house. The publications launches were financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.
