Exhibition Opening: "TURNING POINT – On the Experience of Illness, Empathy and Support"

Place of the event: Franciszkańska 1/5, Łódź
When: 16 October 2026 (Friday) 18:30 - 16 October 2026 (Friday) 20:00

How can we support others and be supported ourselves when illness becomes a part of everyday life? How can we create relationships and workplaces rooted in empathy? How can we respond to the needs of people facing health crises? On Friday, 16 October at 6.30 p.m., the opening of the exhibition “ZWROT – o doświadczeniu choroby, empatii i wsparciu” [TURNING POINT – On the Experience of Illness, Empathy and Support] will take place at Wozownia 1/5 Gallery. The exhibition presents photographs, design objects (lingerie and design) and literary stories of members of the University of Lodz community. These are deeply moving accounts of the changes that chronic illness has brought to their lives.

Opublikowano: 27 September 2026
Artistic photography – an abstract black-and-white photograph depicting an object in motion, photo by Bartosz Kałużny

The event also marks the launch of another research and artistic project prepared in cooperation with the Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts Łódź and forming part of the programme of the “Man in Danger” Media Festival. During the opening event, visitors will have an opportunity to see a variety of works and meet their creators:

  • Projektowanie blisko ciała [Designing Close to the Body] / dr hab. Dorota Salska, Associate Professor at the Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts Łódź
    Designs of lingerie intended for women with a stoma and women after mastectomy. Among other works, the artist devoted her habilitation thesis "Zrozumieć stomię” [Understanding a Stoma] to this subject, combining a design perspective with the real needs of women.
     
  • Two Artistic Photography Series: Tkanka [Tissue] and Gesty [Gestures] / Bartosz Kałużny (University of Lodz)
    A photographic series encompassing two themes. “Gesty” [Gestures] consists of metaphorical images inspired by the stories of members of the University of Lodz community who experienced serious illness and decided to share their experiences. “Tkanki” [Tissues] is a photographic interpretation of the transformation brought about by illness, presented through a dialogue between human experience and architecture.
     
  • Breast Friends: Profilaktyka poprzez design [Prevention Through Design] / Zuzanna Leśniak (student of the Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts Łódź)
    Design projects supporting education and awareness concerning breast cancer prevention. The works were created as Zuzanna Leśniak’s diploma project. She is a student of the Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz and the recipient of a University of Lodz distinction in Prime Time, the competition for the best BA and MA diploma projects of the Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz.
     
  • Opowieści o zmianie – literackie historie osób ze społeczności UŁ [Stories of Change: Literary Narratives from the UniLodz Community] / exhibition narrative by Agata Dawidowicz (University of Lodz) 
    A collection of literary stories of members of the University of Lodz community who agreed to share their experiences of serious illness is an integral part of the exhibition. Together with “Gesty”, they create a polyphonic narrative about change and the search for a new place in life after experiencing a health crisis.

The exhibition will be open until 17 November this year. It may be viewed:

Accompanying Events Programme

  • ZWROT #1. W pracy: jak tworzyć wspierające miejsce dla osób chorych? [TURNING POINT #1. At Work: How Can We Create a Supportive Environment for People with Illness?]
    10 November (Tuesday), 6.30 p.m. at the Biedermann’s Palace, Franciszkańska 1/5
    Participants: dr hab. Jakub Niedbalski, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz (Institute of Sociology, University of Lodz), Bartosz Stępień (Support and Accessibility Centre), AdamTrojańczyk (business leader), Dr Aleksandra Różalska (Equality Council)
     
  • ZWROT #2. W życiu: jak wspierać i być wspieranym w doświadczeniu choroby? [TURNING POINT #2. In Life: How Can We Support Others and Be Supported Through the Experience of Illness?]
    16 November (Monday), 6.30 p.m. at the Biedermann’s Palace, Franciszkańska 1/5 
    Participants: dr hab. Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz (Vice-Rector, Institute of Philosophy, University of Lodz), dr hab. Dorota Salska, Associate Professor at the Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts Łódź (Institute of Clothing, Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz), dr hab. Joanna Miniszewska, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz (Institute of Psychology, University of Lodz), Dr Marta Kucharska-Hauk (Institute of Psychology, University of Lodz; Equality Council)

More information is available on the project website: "ZWROT – o doświadczeniu choroby, empatii i wsparciu” (in Polish).

 

Material and edit: Agata Dawidowicz, Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University
Photo: Bartosz Kałużny, Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University

Place of the event: Franciszkańska 1/5, Łódź
Date and time of the event: 16 October 2026 (Friday) 18:30 - 16 October 2026 (Friday) 20:00
Published: Agata Dawidowicz

UNIVERSITY OF LODZ

 

Narutowicza 68, 90-136 LODZ

fax: 00 48 42/665 57 71, 00 48 42/635 40 43

NIP: 724 000 32 43

Funduszepleu
Projekt Multiportalu UŁ współfinansowany z funduszy Unii Europejskiej w ramach konkursu NCBR