WARSAW – The new building of the Warsaw Museum of Modern Art opened recently, introducing a minimalist white concrete structure aimed at revitalizing a derelict area of the Polish capital, which has been dominated by Stalin-era edifices.
Warsaw, a city of 1.8 million inhabitants, has never had a dedicated site for its modern art museum. Previously, the art institution only exhibited its collections in a few temporary locations.
The new museum building has been likened by some to a shoebox, shipping container or bunker which was designed by American architect Thomas Phifer, was also praised as a ‘jewel of minimalism’ by other art activists.
Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski described the opening of the museum as a ‘historic event’ for Polish art and the city of Warsaw.
“Warsaw is changing rapidly, but the city center still retains the face from several decades ago,” he said at a recent press conference.
STALIN’S LEGACY
During the Second World War, almost 90 percent of the Polish capital was destroyed by Nazi German attacks, leaving the city center in ruins during the liberation.
After the war, the communist government decided not to rebuild the area and chose to build the Palace of Culture and Science, a high-rise building with Soviet-inspired socialist realism architecture.
More than 230 meters high, the building was gifted by the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Joseph Stalin, which for many years became a landmark of the Polish capital.
Throughout the communist era, the palace was used as a location for large-scale political gatherings.
After the fall of the USSR, the large square in front of the building turned into a street market, then into an abandoned parking lot – cut off from city life by the wide main road.
According to architectural historian, Anna Cymer, the square is still a place of unclear function.
“Warsaw still finds it difficult to free itself from its many historical legacies,” he said.
“We are finally on the right track to revive this area for the benefit of all. This museum is an important step towards creating a true downtown and revitalizing its environment,” he added.
THE LIGHT OF WARSAW
For the architect of the nearly 20,000 square meter museum, the selection of a strategic location is described as a bold decision.
“They could have chosen any other location in Warsaw, but they chose to build it next to the castle with all its history,” Phifer said.
“This is a new voice, a new home, a new city square, a new forum, a place to appreciate art and interact with each other,” he added.
The museum, which cost US$170 million, has floor-to-ceiling glass walls on the ground floor as an open invitation to the public.
Inside, twin staircases lead visitors to the exhibition rooms – currently mostly empty, with only a dozen artworks on display before the permanent exhibition opens in February next year.
Over the next two weeks, the museum will celebrate its opening with a variety of events including concerts, dance performances and workshops.
The entire interior of the building is bathed in natural light, which Phifer says is part of the museum’s architectural design.
“The light of Warsaw, which is a characteristic of this city, begins to merge with the art experience here,” he said. – AFP