Exhibition: WARSAW UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Older City

Is Warsaw a city for people of every age? Is it ready for demographic change and a society living longer? Do we remember that old age concerns each and every one of us?

The exhibition at the Wola Museum “Older City” takes place as part of the 17th edition of the WARSAW UNDER CONSTRUCTION festival. It is dedicated to the experience of ageing and the place of older people in city life.

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26.09.2025 – 29.03.2026

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Opening: 26.09 at 18:00

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Wola Museum, a branch of the Museum of Warsaw, ul. Srebrna 12, Warsaw

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Artists guide us through the topic of ageing in the city. We present works by creators such as Władysław Hasior, Zbigniew Libera, Monika Mamzeta, Roman Opałka and Agata Zbylut. New works for the exhibition were created by Janusz Byszewski and Mariusz Libel (associated with Grupa Twożywo), Ewa Cieniak, Magda Mosiewicz, Franciszek Orłowski and Liliana Zeic.

Shared old age
The theme of ageing is shown from different perspectives. We give voice to senior women and men, as well as to people caring for older relatives and those doing paid care work. We present solutions and assistance institutions — historical and contemporary, designed by organisations and people working for social change. We show ageing not as a problem but as a stage of life that concerns us all.

“Old age should not be a taboo,” “Seniors should co-create the museum’s program” — these are some of the demands formulated in the Seniors’ Manifesto, a work by Franciszek Orłowski developed with the participation of the Club of Modern Senior Women and Men and the Intergenerational Activity Centre “Nowolipie”.

An important part of preparing the exhibition was cooperation with a club operating at the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, as well as senior groups meeting, among other places, in Warsaw’s Intergenerational Activity Centres. The results of workshop meetings and creative activities will be presented at the Wola Museum. The exhibition will also premiere a film directed by Franciszek Orłowski, which expands on the Seniors’ Manifesto.

Caregivers, mostly Ukrainian, affiliated with the Commission of Domestic Workers tell about their work through the installation Room without a Door, a continuation of the Caregivers project. We Want a Whole Life. Experiences of caring for older, ill relatives are also reflected in works by Zbigniew Libera and Monika Mamzeta, and in a new installation by Magda Mosiewicz titled Course in Falling Skillfully.

A city for people of every age
Many factors influence the ageing process, and one important factor is the environment — the city. The exhibition at the Wola Museum offers a chance to look at new institutions operating in Warsaw, such as Intergenerational Activity Centres, and historical solutions like the “Budowlani” Social Welfare Home.

Imagine (a good) old age
A rich accompanying program will allow closer acquaintance with existing and prototype solutions. The Society of Creative Initiatives “ę” will speak about its experience supporting social innovations. Together with the Association of Theatre Educators you can think about scenarios for your own old age. In addition to lectures and conversations with experts there will be opportunities for creative intergenerational meetings. The heart of the exhibition will be a communal table covered with an embroidery tablecloth designed by Ewa Cieniak.

• Opening hours of the exhibition:
• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9-18
• Thursday: 11-20
• Saturday, Sunday: 11-19

Thursdays — admission at the price of 1 zł.
Last entry to the exhibition is possible 30 minutes before the Wola Museum closes.

WARSAW UNDER CONSTRUCTION
This year’s edition of WARSAW UNDER CONSTRUCTION is organised by the Museum of Warsaw. The festival addresses design issues: from industrial design and graphic design to architecture, urban planning and social design.

Some works presented at the exhibition were created as part of the project “Scenarios of Old Age. Intergenerational Participatory Museum” co-financed by the Capital City of Warsaw from the Culture Institutions Fund.

PGE Moc Kultury is the Museum of Warsaw’s education partner.

Curators: Wanda Kaczor, Magdalena Staroszczyk
Cooperation: Janusz Byszewski and others.