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S Z C Z E C I N
Szczecin - A street - A city. Karkutschstrasse - St. Wojciech Street.
A history and modern image of the city
as seen through one street's perspective
Karkutschstraße
- ul. sw. Wojciecha
Starting with the National Archives' building situated at the corner
of Jagiellonska and St. Wojciech's streets we commence our journey
into the past. The reproductions of old documents are proceeded
by the picture of Pomeranian Dukes' Castle - the original seat of
the Archives. The street's history becomes a pretext for telling
the city's history, which is presented in the form of the calendar
of most important events and the short outline of events. The album
is a "specific" catalogue of the exhibition " Karkutschstrasse -
St. Wojciech Street. A history of one street in Szczecin". The drafts
of old manor houses' facades are paralleled with modern pictures.
A spectator's attention is drawn to details, ephemeral in normal
observation. Old pictures of churches and former cemetery, the baroque
gate and pre-war houses at Zwyciestwa Square are examples of the
atmosphere characteristic of the old town that is best-rendered
through citizens caught in the street. Sepia atmosphere of old photos
and "yellowed" documents are contrasted with the modern times, and
the reality in blue greys. This modernity is Polish presence in
this city and the evidence of the last 50 years. It's people's attitude
towards the remained heritage. The leading motif through the album's
pages is a road sign with 2 juxtaposed names of streets" Karkutschstrasse
and St. Wojciech Street. In the past, the German names come first,
in the modern times the Polish do. The modern architecture and the
city's cultural potential - museums, galleries, theatres, philharmonic
hall- all add to the image.
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