History and modernity

The best proof of the fact that linking history with modernity is possible are the three new, hugely popular exhibitions opened here since 2010: the “In the footsteps of the European identity of Krakow” tourist route underneath the Market Square (mentioned above); the restored Oskar Schindler’s Emalia Factory, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow (MOCAK).

Oskar Schindler’s Emalia Factory hosts a permanent exhibition, “Krakow Under Nazi Occupation 1939-1945”, which includes 45 exhibition spaces arranged in a special manner so that visitors can virtually touch history and feel the atmosphere of Krakow under occupation. The exhibition is additionally enriched with state-of-the-art multimedia that lends itself to the uniqueness of this place: it offers a combination of historical messages with modern technologies. The goal of this unique exhibition is to present visitors with the history of Krakow during war time and the difficult plight of the Polish and Jewish inhabitants of the city.

But Krakow is not only home to historical sites that commemorate old times. The fact that it is also fashionable and modern is evidenced by the launch of the Museum of Contemporary Art this year. In Poland it is the first institution of this type to be established from scratch. The building was erected on part of the premises of the old Oskar Schindler Emalia Factory in the post-industrial Zablocie district, which has undergone rapid regeneration in recent years. The design was created by Claudio Nardi, an Italian architect and interior designer, who draws upon the neo-Modernist trend. MOCAK gathers an international collection of art presenting the output of the last twenty years, and referencing everything from the latest artistic phenomena to the traditions of conceptual art. The institution’s programme also covers educational measures, research and publishing projects.