The day before the grand opening, the new building of the Museum of Modern Art at Plac Defilad was visited by journalists. – We are opening a new chapter in the history of Warsaw and Poland. This place will be teeming with life and will become an icon of art, said the mayor of the capital, RafaÅ‚ Trzaskowski, during the meeting.
On Friday, October 25, the Museum of Modern Art will open its doors to the residents of Warsaw. The day before, journalists were invited inside. The press meeting was attended by the mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski, his deputy Aldona Machnowska-Góra, director of MSN Joanna Mytkowska and Thomas Phifer, architect and creator of the building.
“We will have a world-class place for the promotion of Polish culture”
RafaÅ‚ Trzaskowski emphasized that the opening of MSN is a “historic moment for Warsaw”. – There hasn't been a place like this in Warsaw for decades, a place that would be created from scratch just to promote Polish art, which is spectacular in itself – he said. He noted that this project is part of the New Center of Warsaw. – MSN is part of the fact that we are finally able to complete this transformation – he added.
– We will have a world-class place to promote Polish culture and modern art, which is very popular – said Trzaskowski.
During his speech, Trzaskowski emphasized that MSN will be a place for meetings, discussions, the emergence of new trends and education.
Open, equal and democratic culture
– It is very important that this building is located opposite the Palace of Culture and Science and symbolically changes the center of the capital. This is a building dedicated to open, equal and democratic culture – said Joanna Mytkowska, director of MSN. – Its architectural shape invites you inside. We have many spaces here for meetings and debates, she added.
Mytkowska indicated that the exhibition of the MSN collection will open only in February next year. – We wanted to devote the first weeks and months to getting everyone familiar with the building and its capabilities. First of all, we will show the so-called performing arts, i.e. a lot of contemporary dance, choreography and performance. Over 100 artists will present various formats of modern art in the coming weeks, explained the head of MSN.
The shape of the Museum of Modern Art, its scale, color and the fact that it is located in the very center of the capital arouses extreme emotions – from admiration to sharp criticism.
– I don't know of any other such a large architectural project that would not arouse emotions. After all, it is completely natural. We have completely different tastes and expectations. Every large project that was built from scratch in the world, such as the Pompidou Center in Paris, the Guggenheim in Bilbao or the pyramid in the Louvre, was controversial. Today, it is hard to deny that both the Pompidou has become one of the symbols of Paris, and the Guggenheim has actually become the most important symbol of Bilbao, attracting hundreds of tourists to it – said RafaÅ‚ Trzaskowski.
Opening to residents on Friday
MSN will open to the general public on Friday, October 25. The program of events prepared for the inauguration of the new headquarters is scheduled for two weeks, until November 10. The audience awaits, among others: exhibitions, performances, concerts, shows, workshops and sound installations.
One of the main attractions of the opening day will be a concert by a singer associated with the American alternative scene, co-founder of the band Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon. The concert will take place on October 25, starting at 22.
The new headquarters of MSN
The Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw occupies nearly 20,000 square meters of space, of which over 4,000 square meters are devoted to exhibition spaces. They were located on the first and second floors, where rooms were also designed with panoramic windows overlooking Marszałkowska Street and the southern part of Defilad Square. Another characteristic feature of the building is the spacious staircase, the spectacular nature of which has already become known to Warsaw residents thanks to photos from the construction site.
The building was designed by the New York studio Thomas Phifer and Partners in cooperation with the APA Wojciechowski studio, while the structure and installation designer is BuroHappold Engineering.
Next to the museum, in front of the main entrance to the Palace of Culture and Science, work is also underway on the so-called central square.
Main photo source: PAP/Paweł Supernak