At a time when uncertainty seems to be an intrinsic part of our everyday life, the answer to the question “How do we build a sense of security in times of uncertainty?” becomes extremely topical. The Lara and penatas exhibition presented in the Polish Pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice is an interdisciplinary attempt to seek an answer to this challenge. Bringing together the insights of architecture, art and the anthropology of everyday gestures, the exhibition reveals that a sense of security is built not only through precise regulations, but also through rituals, symbols and emotional relationships with space.
The exhibition was created by a team of artists: Aleksandra Kędziorek, Krzysztof Maniak, Katarzyna Przezwańska and Maciej Siuda. Their joint work is proof that contemporary architecture can act as a shelter, where technical aspects – such as alarm systems, escape signs or fire extinguishers – coexist with a wealth of cultural narratives. The exhibition shows how ingrained traditions and rituals, represented by symbolic objects, can transform an ordinary space into a place of care and warmth.
The exhibition’s official opening ceremony took place on 8 May during the Biennale’s press days, giving the event a unique prominence right from the start. The inauguration ceremony was attended by representatives of the cultural and diplomatic world, including: Agnieszka Pindera – Director of Zachęta and Commissioner of the Polish Pavilion, Hanna Wróblewska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, Agnieszka Gloria Kamińska, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Milan, Olga Wysocka, Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, and Lidia Kołucka, Executive Director of Sponsorship at ORLEN.
For Zachęta – National Gallery of Art, this is an event of special importance. We have been taking care of the Polish Pavilion for more than 70 years, making it a space for artistic dialogue with international audiences. Poland’s participation in the Architecture Biennale is not only a tradition, but also an important part of our heritage,’ emphasised Agnieszka Pindera, director of Zachęta and commissioner of the Polish Pavilion.
These words perfectly capture the spirit of the exhibition, in which the issue of security is not treated solely in material or technical terms. During the inauguration ceremony, emphasis was placed on a community approach to the creation of space, where emotionality, rituals and everyday gestures are as important as solid architectural foundations.
This year’s project at the Venice Architecture Biennale goes to the heart of contemporary questions and concerns. The creators of the exhibition remind us that it is not only walls and regulations that keep us safe. Also gestures, rituals and superstitions have the power to transform an ordinary space into a caring place. The story of household deities – laras and penates – is not just a poetic symbol, but a universal code, deeply rooted in the human need for agency and meaning, ” said Hanna Wróblewska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
The exhibition asks how architecture can contribute to building a safe reality. The author’s study presents two aspects of this question. The first is based on technical solutions – alarm systems, escape signs and other safety tools. The second explores the cultural dimension of safety, showing objects associated with traditions and beliefs: a horseshoe, streak sticks, a divining rod, a thunderbolt, a lightening rod or protective markers on a threshold. The arrangement of the exhibition neatly links the interior of the Polish Pavilion with its façade, creating a coherent narrative about safety resulting from the harmony between technology and tradition.
Also integral to the event is a publication entitled Lares et penates. On Building a Sense of Security in Architecture. The book can be purchased at the Zachęta Art Bookstore, on the official website, and at the Venice Biennale bookshop. The publication is a kind of guide to the ideas behind the exhibition, deepening reflection on contemporary challenges and the role of architecture in shaping public space.
The Lara and penatas exhibition will remain open to the public in Venice until 23 November, offering a unique opportunity to experience how contemporary approaches to security can combine technical and cultural aspects. This event is not only a testament to the creativity of the creators, but also an important voice in the discussion about the future of architecture and the role of tradition in a dynamically changing world.
team: Aleksandra Kędziorek, Krzysztof Maniak, Katarzyna Przezwańska, Maciej Siuda
commissioner of the Polish Pavilion: Agnieszka Pindera, director of Zachęta – National Gallery of Art
Biennale Office: Anna Kowalska, Michał Kubiak (deputy commissioner)
organiser: Zachęta – National Gallery of Art
Poland’s participation in the 19th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice is funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.
photos: Jacopo Salvi, Zachęta archive
source: v2com, Zachęta
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