Published: 4 March 2026
Paweł Starzec curates exhibition on Wrocław’s ’90s independent scene
Author: Editorial Team
In the 1990s, Wrocław marched to the beat of its own drum. A vibrant underground culture was born in local clubs, galleries, and squats, ultimately defining the city’s unique character. The exhibition "City Scene: Wrocław’s Independent Culture of the 1990s" tells the story of the people, places, and ideas that continue to inspire new generations of creators. One of the show’s curators is Dr. Paweł Starzec — a lecturer at the School of Form at SWPS University and Vice-Dean for Student Affairs at the Faculty of Design in Warsaw, SWPS University.
The spirit of DIY
The exhibition at Studio BWA Wrocław explores a community that built its own alternative cultural circuit during Poland’s era of transformation. Musicians, performers, and visual artists collaborated on their own terms, fueled by a raw, uncompromising DIY (Do-It-Yourself) ethos.
The curatorial team — School of Form’s Paweł Starzec and journalist Paweł Piotrowicz — aims to capture the phenomenon of the ’90s Wrocław scene. However, this is more than just a nostalgic look back; it is a story about how independent culture expands the imagination, strengthens community bonds, and reshapes urban spaces.
Grassroots culture creates a network of connections between creators and audiences — an ecosystem of mutual ties. It builds communities that deserve to be remembered.
Paweł Starzec and Paweł Piotrowicz, exhibition curators
A deep dive into the archives
The exhibition features photographs, films, zines, posters, and other archival materials — many of which are being shown to the public for the first time. It brings to life the figures, bands, and venues that shaped Wrocław’s artistic landscape, including icons like Lech Janerka, Kaman, and Kormorany, as well as legendary clubs like Amsterdam and Podium, the Entropia and Lśnienie galleries, and the city’s historic squats.
Practical information
"City Scene: Wrocław’s Independent Culture of the 1990s"
Where: Studio BWA Wrocław, ul. Ruska 46a/301
When: March 6 – May 17, 2026
Opening: March 6, 2026, 19:00
Opening night concert: March 6, 2026, 21:00 at Klub Szalonych, Wrocław – featuring the band Kormorany
Curatorial tour: March 7, 2026, godz. 15:00
