VENICE.- Adam Mickiewicz Institute are delighted to announce that the Polish Pavilion The Poetics of Necessity, curated by Zofia Jaworowska, Michał Sikorki, and Petro Vladimirov, has won the 2023 London Design Biennale Medal, awarded to the most outstanding overall contribution.

Responding to the biennale theme of ‘The Global Game: Remapping Collaborations’, The Poetics of Necessity, initiated and organised by Adam Mickiewicz Institute, explores how unexpected objects such as reclaimed windows emerge from the world of reuse, and crisis collaboration.

Curators Zofia Jaworowska, Michał Sikorki, and Petro Vladimirov say: ‘We are thrilled we could share a project which is very close to our hearts with a wide, international public. Material reuse is definitely the future of architecture and has immense social potential. Polish-Ukrainian solidarity is proof of that.’

Barbara Schabowska, Director of Adam Mickiewicz Institute says: ‘We are honoured to be awarded the most outstanding overall contribution medal at the London Design Biennale 2023. By capturing the essence of collaboration and solidarity, the Poetics of Necessity presents a unique perspective on the war in Ukraine, showcasing how people can come together to support each other in difficult times. The windows collected and exhibited at LDB will travel to Ukraine in July.’

This year’s London Design Biennale takes place in June under the theme “The Global Game: Remapping Collaborations.” International, interdisciplinary collaboration in the fields of architecture and design is key to grasping the meaning of the exhibition. For the first time in the history of the event, curatorial care is the responsibility of an entire institution – Nieuwe Instituut, a Dutch museum of architecture, design, and digital culture, whose general and artistic director is Aric Chen.

Curator’s Statement: “It seems that the times of individual growth and accumulation of goods for one’s personal comfort are behind us. War, climate change, increasing instability call for a sense of togetherness, creating a network of support, as well as a new distribution of knowledge, goods and tools. Through Polish-Ukrainian collaboration we found a sense of solidarity and motivation to work together, simply, towards a greater good – in this case through exploring the potential of reuse building materials and bringing to light what we already have at our disposal.”