Michał Kucharski
Keywords: Boyhood, Fighting, Cars
Internship: Miloš Trakilović & Zuqiang Peng at Rijksakademie voor Beeldende Kunsten
michal-kucharski.com, michalkucharski97@gmail.com, instagram.com/michal_kucharski_
Growing up in an industrial area of southern Poland, once built with pride and now a combination of modern and forgotten buildings, left my generation caught between past dreams and an uncertain future. As the ideals of creating a perfect society shifted, constant tension emerged.
The confrontation of values and romanticized violence became both a refuge and a source of friction for the people living in Nowa Huta. Boyhood, shaped by these influences, was a phase I observed from the sidelines rather than experienced.
In this project, I stage scenes that blend personal stories with collective memories to recreate the boyhood of my neighborhood. By comparing mine to similarly built areas, I explore how the community deals with societal shifts in a place where archetypes of violent residents dominate. This approach helps me understand my background, which I never felt part of.