Citizen Cepelia — curatorial tour

“Obywatelka Cepelia” is the first in Poland, critical, cross-sectional exhibition dedicated to one of the most influential and at the same time least understood institutions producing and distributing artistic objects and works of art. For four decades, Cepelia (the Centre of Folk and Artistic Industry) has shaped the everyday aesthetics of Poles, influencing the appearance of their apartments, clothing, souvenirs, and even collective ideas about folklore and tradition. It was important for building the image of the country abroad. The exhibition presents this phenomenon in a broad perspective, combining social, visual design and ideological contexts.

“Citizen of Cepelia” invites you to reflect on how everyday objects were created in the PRL, what role aesthetics played in the state cultural system and how the heritage of Cepelia returns today in fashion, design activity and collective nostalgia. It is a story about an institution that remains one of the most important symbols of Polish material culture of the 20th century.