This is a sculptural self-portrait of contemporary inhabitants of Bródno. In workshops attended by over a hundred people, several types of figures were developed—a goddess, a poet, a public official, a saint, a senior citizen, an athlete—and used to create moulds for ten figures. Executed from perishable materials, they were then cast in bronze at the Centre for Polish Sculpture in Orońsko. The monument was conceived by Paweł Althamer, inspired by Rodin’s sculpture The Burghers of Calais. The heroes and heroines of everyday life, and their neighbourly relations, are commemorated in Bródno.
In 1916, the inhabitants of what is today Bródno formally became Varsovians. A century later, contemporary Bródno residents took part in sculpture workshops in the district. The result was ten sculptures made of more or less typical materials, such as wood, plaster, wicker, office supplies, and even bread. Making this collective self-portrait, the artists showed who they are but also how they perceive each other.
The Burghers of Bródno is linked with The Burghers of Calais not only by its title. Both sculptures show the community while also individualizing the specific figures. Rodin’s sculpture commemorates the inhabitants of the city, occupied during the Hundred Years’ War, who heroically offered themselves as hostages to England’s King Edward III. Althamer captured this sculptural tribute to community and common cause. Thanks to his initiative, it became clear that similar values, although in a completely different context, are also realized today, including through group activities and the efforts of contemporary Bródno residents.
Authors: Bogumiła Pakieło , Bogumiła Zawadzka, Hanna Stanisławska, Zofia Tobik, Jadwiga Kalinowska, Ewa Kowalska, Zofia Piraszewska, Barbara Dąbrowska, Hanna Piątkowska, Barbara Rosłońska, Danuta Wróblewska, Joanna Chrościcka, Roman Stańczak, Hanna Konador, Tadeusz Podgórski, Małgorzata Podgórska-Manowska, Michał Mioduszewski, Honorata Martin, Andrzej Przybysz, Krzysztof Mioduszewski, Milena Jaworska, Mateusz Kowalczyk, Marek Rąbiński, Maksymilian Podleśny, Diana Grabowska, Bruno Althamer, Tomek Borecki, Kamil Szałaj, Szymon Althamer, Michał Oleksiak, Mateusz Chmura, Krzysztof Ostrzeszewicz, Paweł Chmielewski, mieszkańcy Ośrodka dla Cudzoziemców na Targówku, Norbert Delman, Jerzy Bohdan Szumczyk, Jędrzej Rogoziński, Jerzy Płusa, Iwona Płusa, Jędrzej Rogoziński, Tadeusz Głupczyk, Marzena Klimkiewicz, Dominik Klimkiewicz, Verdiana Calia, Mattia Montemezzani, Paweł Althamer, Rafał Żwirek, Katarzyna Górska-Manczenko, Jolanta Miśkiewicz, Iwona Wujastyk, Krzysztof Miszewski, Paweł Michalec, Monika Szambelan, Kamila Szczubeł, Otylka Woszczyk, Ola Woszczyk, Monika Jaczewska, Ewa Sobocińska, Marzena Kamtarska, Marianka Althamer, Łukasz Babut, Elżbieta Rozwadowska, Tomasz Akacki, Małgorzata Staszewska, Adrian, Klara, Laura, Helena Hruszwicka, Basia Hruszwicka, Adaś Beck