The Power of December Events at the Silesian Museum

Theater performance, video opera with a review in The Guardian, meetings with interesting guests including the first Polish woman to conquer the Himalayas and Karakoram, an encounter with Archaeology, the opening of a new exhibition featuring guests from Japan, and St. Barbara and St. Nicholas events for families with children – let’s meet at the Silesian Museum!

1// ST. BARBARA
Saturday, 4.12 / 5:30 PM / “Seekers of St. Barbara”

On December 4th, during St. Barbara's Day, we invite families with children and older children to participate in the fun “Seekers of St. Barbara.” Once upon a time, there was a coal mine on the grounds of the Silesian Museum. Here, where the galleries of the Silesian Museum currently stand, miners once worked under the watchful eye of their patroness, St. Barbara. Will we find her images in the museum? Join us for the fun. If someone finds an image of St. Barbara, they will be able to take a selfie with it and then share it on social media. There will be small gifts waiting for the seekers and a creative activity.

Tickets

2 // MEETINGS WITH ARCHAEOLOGY
Thursday, 5.12 / 6:00 PM / Room A, Level -3
“The History of Carp on Polish Tables. Why is it so popular?”

We invite you to another meeting from our favorite series for archaeology enthusiasts. Carp is our Christmas fish, but the earliest Polish Christmases did not abound in dishes made with this fish. Carp were not raised in ponds, nor were they found in lakes. They were imported from Europe and were once a dish of monks and the elites of that time. Centuries passed before carp made it to the Christmas tables of nearly all families. When and who was the first to eat it in Poland? Why was it the first farmed fish? Did only the Cistercians contribute to its popularity? These and other interesting secrets of the Christmas carp will be revealed during the lecture by Prof. Dr. Hab. Eng. Daniel Makowiecki from the Institute of Archaeology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.

Tickets for 1 PLN can be purchased before the lecture at the entrance to Room A on Level -3.

3 // NEW EXHIBITION AND CONCERT
Thursday, 5.12 / 5:30 PM / “Toshihiro Hamano, Beauty of Japan – Tradition and Modernity”

5:30 PM – artistic part of the opening – concert by Bartek Wąsik playing Sakamoto
6:15 PM – official part of the opening and exhibition tour

The Silesian Museum in Katowice and the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice invite you to an exceptional exhibition “Toshihiro Hamano. Beauty of Japan – Tradition and Modernity,” which serves as a deeply reflective journey into the world of Japanese aesthetics of wabi-sabi and Zen philosophy. Toshihiro Hamano, an outstanding Japanese artist, master of simplicity and contemplation, presents works inspired by the spirit of Tai-an – the oldest preserved tea house in Japan, which has become a symbol of the wabi-sabi philosophy, celebrating the beauty of simplicity, imperfection, and transience.
The exhibition combines Japanese tradition with a modern approach to art, exploring the harmony between emptiness (mu) and light (hikari). Hamano's works invite reflection on the essence of transience, encouraging one to pause in the rush of the contemporary world. “The creativity of Toshihiro Hamano reminds us that emptiness is not a lack but a space full of potential,” emphasizes the exhibition curator, Dr. Hab. Sybilla Skałuba, Prof. ASP.

The opening will take place on Thursday, December 5 at 5:30 PM and will be highlighted by a concert by Bartek Wąsik, dedicated to the composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, who passed away in 2023. The artist will perform pieces that combine the multidimensionality of the piano with the diversity of genres characteristic of Sakamoto's creativity, an Oscar winner and composer of film music for such films as: “The Last Emperor,” “The Sheltering Sky,” “Little Buddha,” or “The Revenant.”

On Friday, December 6 at 10:30 AM, there will be a guided tour with Takayuki Nagai.
Takayuki Nagai, a close collaborator of Hamano, whose 45-year collaboration with the artist is a testament to deep respect and loyalty. Nagai, an artist and secretary-general of the Hamano Art Foundation, will share a unique perspective on Hamano's creativity and its cultural context.
Tickets for the tour

Toshihiro Hamano, born in 1937, is a master of graphics, painting, and sculpture, who combines Zen philosophy with modern artistic expression. A laureate of numerous awards, including the Grand Prix d’Honneur of the International Triennale of Graphics in Krakow and honored by UNESCO, he has gained international recognition. His close relationship with Poland resulted in him being awarded the title of Honorary Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice in 2028.

Curators of the Exhibition: Sybilla Skałuba, Artur Masternak
Duration of the exhibition: 6.12.2024–9.03.2025

4 // ST. NICHOLAS AND GUIDED TOURS
Friday, 6.12 / 5:30 PM / Concert of the “Katowice” Brass Band + Byzuch about St. Nicholas

The performance of the “Katowice” Brass Band will be an introduction to the event, immersing participants in the festive atmosphere. The repertoire, inspired by both tradition and contemporaneity, will give the meeting a unique character.
After the concert, there will be a thematic guided tour that will transport participants into the world of St. Nicholas traditions. During the byzuch, a casual, curiosity-filled conversation about old customs, participants will learn about the origins of the gift-giving tradition, what St. Nicholas rituals looked like in Silesia and other parts of Europe, and how they have changed over the years.

5:30 PM–6:00 PM – concert of the “Katowice” Brass Band
6:00 PM–7:00 PM – “Byzuch with St. Nicholas”

Participants in the event, meeting, level -2, cash hall
Tickets

Friday, 6.12 / 5:30 PM / Concert of the “Katowice” Brass Band + “Janina, Henryk, Anna. People and Porcelain”

The performance of the “Katowice” Brass Band will be an introduction to the event, immersing participants in the festive atmosphere. The repertoire, inspired by both tradition and contemporaneity, will give the meeting a unique character.
After the concert, participants will be able to visit the exhibition “Janina, Henryk, Anna. People and Porcelain” as part of a curator-led tour. The exhibition presents a rich collection of porcelain produced in Katowice, from everyday dishes to decorative figurines. It also tells the story of the people who created these exceptional objects, combining functionality with artistic beauty. Some of the exhibits may remind participants of items known from their own homes.

5:30 PM–6:00 PM, concert of the “Katowice” Brass Band
6:00 PM–7:00 PM, curator-led tour of the exhibition “Janina, Henryk, Anna. People and Porcelain”

Participants in the event, meeting, level -2, cash hall
Tickets

5 // THEATER PERFORMANCE
Saturday, 7.12 / 5:00 PM / THE BORDER / GRANICA
Performance by Studio WACHOWICZ/FRET

A performance that crosses boundaries, bringing together foreign worlds.
“T H E B O R D E R / G R A N I C A” is a performance about creating a new, intimate language that allows for communication between [Non]Presences, while simultaneously abandoning the “barbed wire” as a barrier. Initially, the project was to be a documentary about Antonina Romanova, but the war made her participation in the project impossible. The change in artistic direction led to the invitation of Olena Matoshniuk – a painter supporting Ukrainian artists living in Poland – to collaborate. The performance took its final form during the presentation at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it won the main award, The Scotsman’s Fringe First 2024, and was nominated for The Brighton Fringe Excellence Award.

T H E B O R D E R / G R A N I C A is a spectacle that balances on the border of ritual, ceremony, and performance. In its message, it becomes a rite of passage that “receives and gives” simultaneously. It is an experience in which time loses its traditional dimension, becoming a moving image of eternity.

Collaboration with Jarosław Fret and Studio WACHOWICZ/FRET, as well as the story of Antonina Romanova, became an inspiration to create a space in which artists give voice to those whose voices have been silenced, on the border of exclusion and oblivion. This performance aims to unleash the potential of the unheard, often marginalized people.

For audiences 18+, contains scenes of nudity.

Concept: Monika Wachowicz
Collaboration: Jarosław Fret
Performance: Antonina Romanova and Monika Wachowicz
Texts: Antonina Romanova and Monika Wachowicz

During the performance, fragments of video recordings of Antonina Romanova's works, which took place as part of the “Text” project, will be used.

Space arrangement: Jarosław Fret and Monika Wachowicz
Video editing: Maciej Mądry, Jarosław Siejkowski
Duration: approx. 40 minutes
Production: Grotowski Institute and Monika Wachowicz Studio of Bodies and Emotions

The event is part of the nationwide project Perform[ing] Poland of the Grotowski Institute, more information: https://grotowski-institute.pl/projekty/performing-poland/

6 // MEETING ABOUT THE PHOTO ALBUM OF WANDA RUTKIEWICZ
Sunday, 15.12 / 6:00 PM / The Art of Reading: Mountains. Dreams. Wanda Rutkiewicz
Promotion of the post-exhibition publication: “A View from Above. The Archive of Wanda Rutkiewicz”

An exceptional event promoting the post-exhibition publication “A View from Above. The Archive of Wanda Rutkiewicz.” The exhibition and events have attracted a total of 47,000 interested visitors so far.
The meeting will take the form of a conversation about universal content, in life and in the mountains from a female perspective, what the path to the summit is, and how important the journey is in discovering oneself, other cultures, and people.

The guests of the meeting will be:
Dorota Rasińska-Samoćko – a mountaineer, lawyer, and diplomat. The first Polish woman to conquer the Himalayas and Karakoram in a record time of three years. The nickname “Speed Lady” speaks for itself – her achievements are a combination of determination, courage, and exceptional skills.
Daria Sieracka – founder of the Wandalistki Foundation, an activist for women's empowerment in the mountains, a climbing advocate, and author of the project “Woman in the Mountains.” Her activities inspire new generations of women to reach for their dreams, regardless of obstacles.

The meeting will be led by Daniel Wahl – a cultural expert, Tatra mountain guide, and climber, engaged for years in activities at the intersection of culture and nature, a mountain enthusiast, and discoverer of their symbolic dimension.
The event is an excellent opportunity to take a closer look at the life and creativity of Wanda Rutkiewicz and to be inspired by the stories of women who are not afraid to reach high – literally and metaphorically. The album is the result of an exhibition dedicated to one of the most prominent figures in world mountaineering, showcasing not only her achievements but also unpublished materials from her rich archive. Photos from the exhibition by Wanda Rutkiewicz were also presented during the premiere screening of the film “The Last Expedition” directed by Eliza Kuberska at the Iluzjon cinema on October 18, 2024.
During the meeting at the Silesian Museum Library, the premiere publication will be available at a promotional price!
Tickets for the meeting with Dorota Rasińska-Samoćko and Daria Sieracka
Publication

7 // MUSICAL AFTERNOONS AT THE SILESIAN MUSEUM
Sunday, 15.12 / 6:00 PM / auditorium
Video opera and contemporary entertainment – Artur Zagajewski, Fausto Romitelli

An exceptional concert in which entertainment, image, and emotions of contemporary music meet in a unique form. The program includes two fascinating works that combine the latest musical technologies, rock inspirations, and deep reflections on human existence.

Program:

Artur Zagajewski: Tired with all these, for restful death I cry.
William Shakespeare, Sonnet LXVI
Grzegorz Mart, video

Fausto Romitelli: An Index of Metals (video opera)
Libretto: Kenka Lėkovich
Video: Paolo Pachini, Leonardo Romoli
Agata Zubel – soprano
New Music Orchestra conducted by Szymon Bywalec

Artur Zagajewski: Tired with all these, for restful death I cry
Inspired by Sonnet LXVI by William Shakespeare, Artur Zagajewski's work is a musical image expressing the desire to escape from boredom and everyday life. “In death, as in a dream, I wish to depart, tired of all this” – these words of Shakespeare become the foundation of a composition that draws the viewer into a space full of melancholy. The video by Grzegorz Mart, showcasing gray and depressing images of Polish housing estates made of concrete slabs, perfectly complements this musical reflection, creating an atmosphere of sadness and longing for rest in death.

Fausto Romitelli: An Index of Metals (video opera)
“An Index of Metals” is one of the most important musical works of the 21st century, gaining relevance due to its unique fusion of electronics, rock, and classical music. Composer Fausto Romitelli, recognized as a genius of contemporary music, combines innovative entertainment technology with profound artistic reflection in this work. Fascinated by the sounds of rock and electronics, Romitelli created a video opera that immerses listeners in the realm of entertainment experiments.

This work consists of three main elements: solo soprano (Agata Zubel), amplified instruments (strings and brass), prepared piano, and electronic intermezzos. All of this is enriched by a visual layer created by Paolo Pachini, with projections on three screens, giving the viewer a sense of deep immersion in the space of entertainment and image.

The electronic-acoustic layer of this video opera transports the viewer through various states of space, time, and spirit, and the work becomes an unforgettable journey of entertainment.

Tickets for the concert

We invite you!