Building bonds in public space. Analysis of a project ‘Śródka Remix’

Abstract

This paper contains a sociological analysis of an artistic project ‘Śródka Remix’ created by Marta Żakowska and realised during Poznan Malta Festival in 2011 (as a part of the New Situations project). During this project the artist and inhabitants of the Poznan district ofS´ ro´dka designed, prepared and placed in public space objects of so-called small architecture, created out of recycled furniture. Using Marek Krajewski’s concept of participation in culture and taking into account the context of the revitalisation of Śródka, the paper focuses on the mechanisms through which social bonds and relations with objects were created and transformed during the project. On the one hand this artistic intervention met the expectations of inhabitants regarding public space and many people participated in the project. On the other hand, the project revealed the existing social conflicts.