Meeting

The Legacy of Independent Poland

How has the legacy of distinguished Polish Jews influenced those working in Poland today? Andrzej Seweryn, Dawid Szurmiej, Anda Rottenberg, Katarzyna Mąka-Malatyńska, and Wojciech Grochowalski talk about how luminaries active during the interwar years, the period of the Second Polish Republic, continue to inspire them.

  • The Legacy of Independent Poland: Arthur Rubinstein

Historian Wojciech Grochowalski on Arthur Rubinstein’s fascination with the music of the Romani community of Łódź, and on why Joseph Stalin forbade the pianist to leave Poland.

  • The Legacy of Independent Poland: Henryk Berlewi

What is mechanofaktura? Who was the forerunner of op-art? Art historian Anda Rottenberg reflects on Berlewi’s fascination with mechanics and on his radical avant-garde art.

  • The Legacy of Independent Poland: Arnold Szyfman

How did Arnold Szyfman become fascinated with theatre? Why did he decide to open and manage Polski Theatre? Szyfman’s successor, Andrzej Seweryn, reflects on this theatre director and his oeuvre.

  • The Legacy of Independent Poland: Ida Kamińska

Did Ida Kamińska succeed in saving Yiddish culture from oblivion? Actor and director Dawid Szurmiej reflects on Ida’a Oscar nomination, her role in silent Yiddish cinema, and her debut as a five-year old child.

  • The Legacy of Independent Poland: Aleksander Ford

Why do we know so little about Aleksander Ford’s private life? Why did he change his name? Dr. Katarzyna Mąka-Malatyńska from the National Film School in Łódź will talk about Ford’s enigmatic persona.

  • Legacy: an introduction

The twenty-six individuals featured in the new Legacy gallery at POLIN Museum were born into Jewish families in Poland? How were their lives shaped by the milieu in which they were raised? How might they inspire us today?

 

Legacy of Independent Poland project financed by the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sport of the Republic of Poland as part of the Multi-annual Programme NIEPODLEGŁA 2017–2022.

The project accompanies an #online opening of the program devoted to the new Legacy gallery, an extension of POLIN Museum’s Core Exhibition.