On 16 December 2024 at 19:00, the finale of the DemArt project took place at the Centre for Local Activity (CAL) ‘Made in Brochów’ in Brochów, Wrocław. This event, which has become a permanent part of the estate’s history, was the culmination of months of work by the artist Filip ‘Skont’ Niziołek and the local community.
It was attended not only by the artist himself, but also by his friend and collaborator Tymoteusz, residents of the social housing block on Koreanska Street, representatives of the ‘Made in Brochów’ initiative and the Art Transparent Foundation, two art commissioners, and numerous Brochów residents.
The December finale of the DemArt project in Brochów was an extraordinary event, full of artistic impressions and social interaction. The centrepiece of the evening was the presentation of the monumental mural ‘Four Seasons of the Block’, which transformed the image of a grey social housing block, giving it a new and inspiring identity.
The DemArt project, realised by the Art Transparent Foundation, aimed to democratise art and actively involve the local community in the creative process. From the beginning, the residents of Brochow had a real influence on the choice of artist and the concept of the mural, making the project their joint work, close to the hearts of the local community.
‘Four Seasons of the Block’ is an impressive work of art that covers two side walls of a block of flats on Koreanska Street. Filip ‘Skont’ Niziołek, an artist known for his distinctive style that draws on graffiti and street art, created a series of portraits of the block’s residents, which together form a composition full of symbolism and emotion.
While working on the mural, the artist developed an extraordinary bond with the local community, which was clearly evident during the final meeting. The residents of the block of flats, present at the event, spoke with warmth and gratitude about Skont, emphasising that he charmed them with his openness and authenticity. The artist approached them as equals and was not afraid to interact, which encouraged the residents to participate in the project and allowed them to open up to him by allowing themselves to be portrayed on such a large scale.
Work on the mural took several weeks and was an open process. Residents were able to watch the artist at work on a regular basis, talk to him and share their insights. Skont emphasised that it was the residents of the social block and their stories that inspired him the most.
During the project’s finale, the door connecting the social block with the community culture centre ‘Made in Brochów’ was opened. This door in the underway passage, that usually had been locked shut, was opened at Filip’s request to symbolically invite the residents of the block to actively participate in the event. The artist personally encouraged his neighbours to take part in the concluding event, another gesture that built a sense of community.
Attendees of the meeting had the opportunity to learn more about the local community and the process of creating the mural through videos recorded by the artist. Skont documented his interactions with local residents, showing how the bond between him and the local community was born. The films were a testament to the authentic relationships and emotions that accompanied the DemArt project.
The finale of the DemArt project in Brochów was not only a presentation of the artwork, but above all a celebration of the local community. This event showed how art can bring people together, build a sense of community and change the space in which we live.
