Cracks, potholes and minor damage to the road surface usually went unnoticed. In Bielsko-Biała, however, they became the starting point for creating mosaic compositions that brought art to places where no one expected to find it. The French collective EMEMEM visited Poland for the first time, carrying out a series of interventions in the urban fabric using DUNIN mosaics.
The artists’ visit was part of the programme organised by Galeria Bielska BWA, held as part of the Street Art Academy and Bielsko-Biała’s official activities as the Polish Capital of Culture 2026. The result of several days’ work was a series of compositions that not only filled in the gaps in the pavements but also redefined the way we view public space. This is art that did not demand attention – it appeared where previously only signs of wear and tear were visible.
The interventions transformed the city
EMEMEM is an anonymous French collective, known for its original ‘flacking’ technique. The artists seek out cracks and gaps in the surface and then fill them with mosaic compositions. The name of the method derives from the French word ‘flaque’, meaning a puddle – a small, often overlooked fragment of space. For the collective, such places become creative material, enabling them to produce works that combine aesthetics with a reflection on everyday urban life.
EMEMEM’s activities are often described as ‘healing the pavements’ or ‘street poetry’. In Bielsko-Biała, the collective carried out micro-interventions that do not dominate the space, but draw attention to the aesthetics of imperfection. Each piece is small, but together they formed a map of places where art permeated everyday life.
A two-week residency
During a two-week residency in Bielsko-Biała, the collective created a series of site-specific works. EMEMEM’s interventions became part of the city’s everyday landscape, introducing an element of colour and surprise into spaces familiar to residents, demonstrating that even the smallest imperfections can serve as a pretext for creative interpretation.
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The project was carried out as part of the Street Art Academy programme and formed part of the official programme of celebrations for Bielsko-Biała as the Polish Capital of Culture 2026. As a result, the French collective’s work fitted into the broader context of urban initiatives that highlighted the role of art in building local identity.
Traces
The works created during the French collective’s visit remained in Bielsko-Biała as a permanent feature of the urban landscape. Now these colourful elements can be seen during everyday walks – sometimes by chance, sometimes as part of a deliberate search. Together, these small interventions form a network of points that subtly alter the perception of urban space.
source: press materials
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