The “Older City” exhibition opens on September 26, 2025, at the Wola Museum to examine how Warsaw can be designed for residents of every age.
Exhibition opening
“Older City” launches as the flagship event of the 17th Warsaw in Construction festival, running from 26 September 2025 to 29 March 2026 at 12 Srebrna Street. A 6 p.m. opening reception will take place on the opening day. Admission costs 15 zł for general, 10 zł for reduced fare, and 1 zł on Thursdays.
Themes and collaborators
The show focuses on the experience of aging and the role of seniors in urban life. Works by artists such as Władysław Hasior, Zbigniew Libera, Monika Mamzeta, Roman Opałka and Agata Zbylut are featured, along with new pieces by Janusz Byszewski, Mariusz Libl (Twożywo Group), Ewa Cieniak, Magda Mosiewicz, Franciszek Orłowski and Liliana Zeic. Curated by Wanda Kaczor and Magdalena Staroszczyk.
Community involvement
Several works emerged from collaborations with Warsaw’s senior communities. Workshops with the Club of Senior Women and Modern Seniors, as well as groups at Multi‑generational Activity Centers, shaped the program. Film premieres include Franciszek Orłowski’s work on “Senior Manifest” – a documentary of proposals co‑created with older adults and care networks. Other pieces feature paintings from “Rock Steady Boxing” training for Parkinson’s patients and installations by caretakers from the Home Workers’ Committee.
Art and data combined
The display blends artistic perspectives with hard statistics and case studies of service and institutional solutions. Highlights new support hubs such as Multi‑generational Activity Centers, while reminding visitors of long‑standing institutions like the Budowlani Social Assistance House, illustrating how the city’s response to an aging population is evolving.
Multigenerational dialogue
Organisers stress that aging is a shared life stage to be co‑created across generations. The accompanying program includes lectures, expert discussions, and creative meetings. A focal point is a communal table with a hand‑stitching tablecloth by Ewa Cieniak, intended as a space for conversation, exchange of experiences and drafting “aging scenarios”.
