The (non) experience of The
Old Market Square in Lodz. Aesthetic problems of the transfiguration of
the architecture and ethical issues of the amputation of the memory
Wioletta Kazimierska-Jerzyk (University of Lodz)
The so-called Old Market - once the real center of the city – now do not perform any functions of the market. It is not a place where important town roads converge. There's not historically important or administrative buildings. It is not a place of trade too. Moreover, it is not a place of assembly, walks. This place is not even interesting for streetartist, is quite pure, blank. Instead, it is still a problem and a challenge for local authorities and artists for two main reasons:
1.
The dramatic story of this place (Jewish ghetto area) is now completely
unreadable because of devastating the cultural tissue;
2. The post-war reconstruction has never been consistently developed according to concrete plans, and the fragmentation of this area is even considering as a certain value (!?).
2. The post-war reconstruction has never been consistently developed according to concrete plans, and the fragmentation of this area is even considering as a certain value (!?).
So I think (in addition to the essential aspects of history and memory) aesthetic reasons are very important for not forgetting this place and its resistance to the transfiguration. You can see polarized qualities in this place that take away it’s aesthetic identification:
1. The competing structures
3.homogeneity and differentiating details,
4. rhythm (arcades) and amorphousness.
a. of the imagined only whole of the market (one frontage is missing)
b. and parts of it,
2. opening and closing, b. and parts of it,
3.homogeneity and differentiating details,
4. rhythm (arcades) and amorphousness.
Aesthetic analysis suggests revitalizing process aiming to transfiguration based on traditional notions about urban market, but also gives opportunities for creative solutions for different areas of art (not only architecture).
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