A Few Words About Łukasz z Bałut
Some people are easy to describe, while others possess such distinctive personalities that it is difficult to fit them into any category. Łukasz Cieślak is certainly one of them. A man of many talents, he is a performer, artist, photographer, documentary filmmaker, community activist and an enthusiast of one of Łódź’s less obvious districts. His work focuses on places, people and everyday realities that gradually disappear over time. Through his projects, he seeks to preserve the memory of a world that is constantly changing. We encourage you to meet him in person, as the screening will be accompanied by a discussion with the author.
Is It Good or Bad to Be a Person from Bałuty?
I think that people from Bałuty are proud of where they come from. They speak about it openly and are keen to emphasise it. They are local patriots. Because Bałuty has a reputation as a poor and dangerous district, we have learned how to cope with some of its shortcomings. I would describe this tendency as a kind of substitute ingenuity. Once, after a Corpus Christi procession, I saw men in white shirts take chairs out of storage sheds usually filled with coal and create something resembling a garden gazebo. We know how to manage, how to make something ourselves using whatever happens to be available – says Łukasz z Bałut in an interview for TU Łódź.pl.
An Open-Air Meeting
The premiere will also provide an opportunity to explore more of Łukasz z Bałut’s film work, as several of his earlier productions will be screened during the evening. We will also talk (in Polish) with the author about documenting the city and uncovering the stories hidden in seemingly ordinary places.
The meeting will be hosted by Kuba Michalski. The entire event will take place in the open-air grounds of the Biedermann’s Palace, located on what is today the border between Bałuty and the Old Town, close to the historic boundary of former Bałuty. The event is open to all.
