In October 2024, members of the Research Centre (Małgorzata Zofia Kowalska, Mariusz Lamentowicz) participated in the 7th edition of the Ireneusz Zjeżdżałka Festival of Photography in Poznań and Greater Poland (Wielkopolska). The festival is the result of cooperation between cultural institutions, non-governmental organisations, creative groups and individuals in Greater Poland. It has been held every two years since 2012, initiated by the Public Library and Cultural Animation Centre in Poznań. The festival is the largest photographic review in the voivodeship, offering insights into the current state of photography in the region and documenting changes in contemporary reality. Each edition includes a series of photographic exhibitions, educational activities, workshops and meetings.
The central theme of the 2024 edition was our relation with water. As the organisers write on the festival’s website, “we are increasingly concerned about the consequences of human activities that destroy the environment and the resulting warming of our climate. This is particularly evident in the context of water resources, which are under pressure from a combination of low levels, poor condition and destruction of aquatic ecosystems, as well as the lack of rational management strategies. Given the growing threat of a hydrological crisis in Poland, it is imperative to rethink our approach to water and rebuild our relationship with nature”. The festival brought together artists, local communities and scientists for a three-week discussion on human perception and engagement with the environment. The Research Centre took part in the event by presenting exhibitions and contributing to interdisciplinary discussions.
