Joanna Wojtkowiak
2017-2018
Joanna Wojtkowiak, PhD Candidate in History at University of Wroclaw, Poland
During my studies I have participated in various exchange programs: ERASMUS as a visiting student at University of Aarhus, Denmark; in cooperation with St. Petersburg State University and Freie Universität in Berlin, Germany; visited academic institutions in Prague and St. Petersburg. I have 3 years of teaching experience – I have led several courses for undergraduate students at University of Wroclaw in Auxiliary Sciences of History, Archivists’ Methodology and Paleography.
My research is focused on the tracing the signs, and if possible, the dynamic changes in the concepts of honour in Silesian medieval sources. Being the essence of tradition, values such as honour are the factors which determine society’s remembering and define the way the world is perceived by a certain social group – royal Piast family in Silesia. The changing of concepts – adaptation according to political and social transformations will be analysed using sociological theory of honour. That way the studies will belong to social history. My main fields of scientific interest are methodology and history of medieval historiography, kingship ideology and political anthropology, cultural identity and textual communities in the medieval times.
Jakub Zarzycki
2015-2016
Jakub Zarzycki, PhD Candidate at The Faculty of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences, University of Wrocław, Poland and The Faculty of Letters and Philosophy of the University of Rome “La Sapienza” (co-tutela programme)
I am an art historian, Polish philologist, curator and critic of contemporary art.
From 2007 to 2012 I studied history of art and Polish philology at the University of Wrocław and University of Turin (Italy).
Since October 2012 I am PhD Candidate at The Faculty of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences, University of Wrocław, University of Wrocław, Poland. Since October 2014 I am also PhD Candidate and The Faculty of Letters and Philosophy of the University of Rome “La Sapienza” (co-tutela programme).
I was a co-founder and coordinator of several scientific workshops and activities in the Institute of Art History of University of Wrocław. I was also the Vice President of Wrocław’s Foundation of Art History Students (2012 -2014), where I organised several public lectures, workshops, festivals and debates. From 2013-2014 I was the Vice President of PhD Candidates Council at University of Wrocław.
In October 2014 – March 2015 I received the Bronisław-Geremek-Scholarship for for my individual research project in Imre-Kertesz-Kolleg (Jena) entitled Post-colonialism (?) and Polish visual culture in period 1861-1918. In June-July 2014 I received the Fritz-Stern-Stipendium for my individual research project in Berlin entitled Polish and German painters in Italy in period 1861-1918. Comparative studies.
I also worked as a curator of contemporary art. I curated a several exhibitions of contemporary painting in “Arttrakt” Contemporary Art Gallery in Wrocław and international photographic projects presented in public sphere in Wrocław and Turin. My critical texts were published in “Odra” and “Obieg”.
My PhD thesis, entitled L’Italia immaginata. Italy and Italians in Polish visual culture from 1861-1914, is the first attempt at description and interpretation of the role and impact the Italian culture had on the Polish visual culture of this period.
This project is based on a collection of works of visual culture from 1861–1914 by Polish artists such as: Henryk Siemiradzki, Adam Chmielowski, Jan Stanisławski,Aleksander Gierymski, Feliks Jabłczyński, Edward Okuń, and Wojciech Weiss. They represent various artistic styles (e.g. academism, impressionism, realism, symbolism) while sharing Italian inspiration. To determine the importance of Italy for Polish artists and Polish culture of the period, I subject them to critical analysis which allows me to recognize four artistic approaches: 1) Italian monuments as an aesthetical and artistic inspiration; 2) Italian scenery as an inspiration; 3) Italy as an emanation of ancient values driving artists; 4) Italy as an artistic refuge, where the talent can be fully realized.
In addition to art history methods I draw heavily from the experience of comparative literature. I also take account of source materials, such as contemporary art criticism, diaries, and letters written by the artists. To date there were no comprehensive studies with a similar scope.
My results pertaining to Polish artistic reception of Italy from 1861–1914 may become basis for further studies on Italian influence on the Central and Eastern European culture in late 19th and early 20th century.
More information and papers (available to download):
https://wroc.academia.edu/JakubZarzycki
During my stay in Edmonton, Karolina Dzimira-Zarzycka and I will have a special radio program in Polish broadcast every Sunday after 7:00 PM on Polish Radio Edmonton.
“Visiting the Studio” will showcase the most important Polish artists from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Each episode includes a discussion of one artist’s biography and an interpretation of one of his/her works.
All of the episodes and more information is available here:
https://www.zwizytawatelier.wordpress.com/
Michał Wiącek
2014-2015
Michał Wiącek, PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wrocław, Poland
After graduating with a degree in International Relations, I started my PhD program at the University of Wrocław. My PhD thesis is focused on the visions of a united Europe in the Polish press on exile after II World War. My research evaluates the impact of the Polish intellectuals in London and Paris in the contemporary visions of the European integration.
Since 2011, I have been an instructor at the University of Wroclaw. Due to my BA in Economics and the LL.M. in the European and International Business Law from the Université Paris-Dauphine, I have always tried to balance the theoretical and practical aspects of the European integration during my classes. Moreover, over the last two years, I have worked as an assistant to the director of the Tulane Law School – Paris Institute for European Legal Studies. I collaborate closely with the Willy Brandt Center for German and European Studies in Wrocław, Poland.