I had the opportunity to be part of a group of artists working on the visual social campaign '21 Demands of Youth Beyond Divisions', organized by the European Solidarity Centre (ESC) in Gdańsk, Poland.
Youth Beyond Divisions is an initiative launched by high school students from the Tricity area. After the tragic assassination of Mayor Paweł Adamowicz, they organized the March Beyond Divisions to stand against the escalation of hatred, intolerance, and lack of respect for others. The death of the mayor of Gdańsk became the turning point for formulating 21 new demands, inspired by the historic demands of August 1980. These called for tolerance, equality, a higher standard of media discourse, a new language of politics, rule of law, and social activism.
Youth Beyond Divisions is an initiative launched by high school students from the Tricity area. After the tragic assassination of Mayor Paweł Adamowicz, they organized the March Beyond Divisions to stand against the escalation of hatred, intolerance, and lack of respect for others. The death of the mayor of Gdańsk became the turning point for formulating 21 new demands, inspired by the historic demands of August 1980. These called for tolerance, equality, a higher standard of media discourse, a new language of politics, rule of law, and social activism.
Each demand was visually interpreted by an artist selected through an open call. Leading Polish designers – Edgar Bąk, Anita Wasik, and Ania Witkowska – supported us as mentors. This resulted in a series of socially engaged and relevant posters.
I had the honor of illustrating Demand no. 20: “We demand respect for the natural environment, which is our common good”. My work highlighted the problem of escalating ecological violence as a consequence of government policies.
On 22 nd of August 2020, the posters were displayed across bus shelters in the Tricity area. The official premiere of the campaign took place on the 40th anniversary of the August Agreements. The social campaign was also showcased in an outdoor exhibition in front of the ECS building, on a big screen during a concert by Maria Peszek, online, and as part of a traveling exhibition available free of charge to educational and cultural institutions.
In 2020, the project ‘21 Demands of Youth Beyond Divisions’ was nominated for the Project of the Year Award, in the ‘Social Impact’ category. Project of The Year is a competition organized by the Association of Polish Graphic Designers.
Poster at the bus shelter at the intersection of Unruga Street and Żelazna Street, Gdynia, Poland | photo: AMS S.A.
Poster at the bus shelter at the intersection of Wielkopolska Street and Olgierda Street, Gdynia, Poland | photo: AMS S.A.
The exhibition in front of ESC building in Gdańsk, Poland; September 2020 | photo: Dominika Padół
The exhibition in front of ESC building in Gdańsk, Poland; September 2020 | photo: Krzysztof Wawer
The exhibition in front of ESC building in Gdańsk, Poland; September 2020 | photo: Krzysztof Wawer
The exhibition in front of ESC building in Gdańsk, Poland; September 2020 | photo: Krzysztof Wawer
Maria Peszek concert in Stocznia Centrum Gdańsk (SCG), Gdansk, Poland; 29th of August 2020 | photo: Dominika Padół
'21 Demands of Youth Above Divisions' nominated for the Project of the Year Award in the 'Social Impact' category.
Information about '21 Demands of Youth Above Divisions' social campaign on European Solidarity Centre website.
