Cycle Rowersytet Warszawski: The Politics of Cycling. Cycling through the history of Warsaw. Lecture by Piotr Kubkowski

First lecture: “The Politics of the Bicycle”. The lecture will cover the political entanglements of cyclism: it will not only concern its ideological affiliations and party colors (in this field we can promise some surprises!) , but also the class, gender and racial entanglements of the bicycle and how these associations have changed over the course of more than a century. We will focus on the Polish, and especially Warsaw, yard, but we will also touch on some inspiring stories from other countries and even continents.

“Cycling through the history of Warsaw”. A series of lectures prepared by Piotr Kubkowski, co-curator of the exhibition Bez manki and author of the book about the beginnings of Warsaw cycling entitled Sprężyście. The meetings will be devoted to the cultural history of cycling: its politics, gender, carnal and sensual issues, cycling trips, and how the mono-footprint has inspired artists of all kinds over the decades.

Piotr Kubkowski is a cultural historian and cultural historian, specializing in the period of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. He deals with cultural history of sightseeing and travel, sports and the body, urban culture. Head of the Department of Cultural History (from 2025), vice-leader of interdisciplinary Urban Studies of the University of Warsaw (from 2024). Author of the monograph Sprinters. Cultural history of Warsaw cyclists at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries (2018). Co-editor and co-author of four books from the “Topo-Grafie” series (about M. Białoszewski — 2013, L. Tyrmand — 2015, M. Hłaska — 2016 and T. Konwicki — 2017). Publisher of the memoirs of Maria Jadwiga Strumff and co-author of the volume Perspectives on People. The Sincere Confessions of a Masseuse (2021). Contributor of the Bibliographic Guide for IKP (2022). Co-curator of the exhibitions Massażystka, or intimate spaces of Warsaw at the turn of the 20th century (Wola Museum, 2015) and Wisła National Park (Stone Pavilion, 2022) and co-organizer of the exhibition “Disappearing Landscapes.” The spatial story of Miron Białoszewski (Prague Museum, 2016). Co-creator of the series about modernist settlements entitled “BLOK.” (directed by T. Knittel, 2018).

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

Tickets (5 PLN) can be purchased online: https://tiny.pl/8j6p03snk and at the Museum box office

Venue: education room

Education partner of the Warsaw Museum — PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A.

www.gkpge.pl