This year's 25th edition of the Nike Literary Award took place in a political context. A strong message was delivered from the stage by Grzegorz Piątek, critic and architectural historian, author of the book "The Best City in the World. Warsaw in Reconstruction 1944-1949," nominated for this year's Nike. Piątek referred not only to the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border. He also commented on the policies of the Polish government, as well as the plan to rebuild the Saski Palace.
On Sunday, October 3, the Nike literary awards gala took place in the building of the Warsaw University Library of the National Library. This was the 25th edition of the event. In addition to the context of literature, the political context resonated strongly at the gala. The audience, as a sign of protest against the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border, held up cards with the inscription "Where are the children of Mikhailov? Families without borders." The issue was also commented on by the winners and invited guests from the stage.
Among them was Grzegorz Piątek, a critic and architectural historian, as well as the author of the book "The Best City in the World. Warsaw in Reconstruction 1944-1949," incidentally nominated for this year's Nike. He commented in strong terms on the policy of the Polish government.
What is going on around us spoils the mood in the room. All this fascist g**no we are in will also end one day, said Grzegorz Piątek.
The most important thing is not to pretend that nothing is happening. Many people rely only on propaganda, and no information about the drama unfolding at the border reaches many," Piątek told the Noizz portal after the gala.
Saxon Palace reconstruction: "a bad and extravagant idea."
During his speech, Grzegorz Piątek also briefly and emphatically commented on the idea of rebuilding the Saski Palace. The host of the gala, Grazyna Torbicka, asked the critic what he thought of the idea.
I think it is a bad, very belated and extravagant idea. I can do the whole lecture," replied Grzegorz Piątek.
We wrote more about the reconstruction of the Saxon Palace in these articles: A special law will make it possible to rebuild the Saxon Palace, A place of memory, a place of dementia. Reflection on the idea of reconstructing the Saxon Palace, Continuation of the controversy over the reconstruction of the Saxon Palace. Experts write an open letter of objection, the project returns to the Culture Committee.
awards of the 25th edition of Nike
The winner of the main prize and the audience prize was Zbigniew Rokita, author of the book "Kajś" a collection of reportages on the history of Silesia. Zbigniew Rokita is also the author of other reportages. The 25th edition also awarded the 25th anniversary prize.It was given to Mariusz Szczygieł for his collection of reportages "There is no."
We can't talk about anything else these days," Zbigniew Rokita referred to the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border.
Grzegorz Piątek is a critic and historian of architecture. From 2005 to 2011 he was editor of the Architektura-Murator monthly. In 2011-2019 he was a member of the board of directors of the Architecture Center Foundation. Author of books, among others: "Ekspektatywa 5 Góry dla Warszawy!", "Sanator. Career of Stefan Starzyński", "Unbreakable", "TheBest City in the World. Warsaw in reconstruction 1944-1949".
compiled by: Katarzyna Domagała
