In the heart of Poznań’s Piątkowo district, on the Bolesława Chrobrego estate, a unique Mural of the 1000th anniversary in Poznań has appeared, celebrating the jubilee of the coronation of the first king of Poland. The mural adorns the top wall of the 11-storey block of flats No. 18, which is perfectly visible from the main arterial roads, such as Prince Mieszko I and Kurpińskiego streets.
As Jacek Kołaczek, president of Poznań Housing Cooperative, emphasised, the choice of location was well thought-out: With this project, we wanted to combine modernity with tradition. The mural and the royal bench are symbols that show that the history of the first Piasts is still alive among us – literally in our backyards.
Mural of the 1000th anniversary in Poznań – commemorating the coronation of Bolesław Chrobry
The new work of street art in Poznań blends in perfectly with the colours of the nearby buildings – its upper part subtly blends in with the façade. The central element of the mural is an image of Bolesław Chrobry and the slogan “It all began here”, emphasising that the coronation of the first king of Poland may have taken place in Poznan, as confirmed by archaeological and historical research.
Artists responsible for the Mural of the 1000th Anniversary in Poznań
The mural project was created by an artistic team consisting of: Dorota Piechocińska, Paweł Piechnik and Dominik Dziedzina. The well-known Poznan team MURALL studio was responsible for the execution.
Dorota Piechocińska tells us: The concept was to combine the image of Bolesław Chrobry with the motif of the oldest denarius minted during his reign. The painting was matched to the local colour scheme and the vertical layout of the wall, creating a story from top to bottom. We took inspiration from the most recognisable profile of the ruler from the 20 zloty note, so that it would be legible from various points in the district.
Paweł Piechnik, in turn, adds: I decided to place a battle scene at the bottom of the mural, because it reflects the character of Bolesław Chrobry’s reign. Despite numerous wars, he was one of the few rulers who expanded Poland’s territory both eastwards and westwards.
An initiative born out of a passion for history
The idea for the Mural of the 1000th anniversary in Poznań was born out of the private passion of one of Poznań’s inhabitants, who wishes to remain anonymous.
– The inspiration goes back to my teenage years when, while travelling on the “Pestka”, I developed a fascination with the history of Poland and Poznań. I wanted the housing estates to be signed with images of their patrons – the rulers of Poland – by means of large-format wall paintings which not only beautify the urban space, but also remind us of our history,” explains the initiator of the project.
source: UM Poznań / poznan.pl
photos: UM Poznań / poznan.pl and MURALL (https://www.facebook.com/murall.studio)
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Poznan | City | whiteMAD on Instagram | Murals | Art | History
