Enzo Signorelli

Lodz, Poland – A Promised Land in the New Europe

Lodz, Poland - A Promised Land in the New Europe
The old Monopolis vodka distillery in Doktora Stefana Kopcińskiego street before the restoration. Built in 1902 Monopol Wódczany is one of the most relevant symbols of the factory heritage of Lodz. [©Enzo Signorelli photographer]
Lodz is an industrial town, the second largest in Poland, which was “a promised land” during the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. These years have been well described in Andrzej Wajda’s movie, inspired by the Wladyslaw Reymont’s book “Promised Land”. Afterwards, in 1927 Reymont was awarded by the Nobel Prize. Wajda in the ‘ 50 learnt at the prestigious National Film School in Lodz, as Krzysztof Kieslowski, Krzysztof Zanussi, Roman Polanski. Arthur Rubinstein, one of the greatest pianists of the century, was born in Lodz. I went to the city for a shooting about the factories of an important Italian-international company. At that time I had a very poor knowledge about Lodz culture and its architecture. In Lodz there are neither tourists, nor souvenir of stores. Lodz is an ordinary working city. Today, following the inclusion of Poland in European Community, Lodz has become a promised land, once again, for buildings and modern industry. The old factories are being rebuilt and turned into offices, lofts, shopping centers, design hotels and art galleries. Modern buildings and new factories growing up near the Mittel-European boulevards, socialist blocks, liberty palaces and the old brick factories. As monuments from the past, still living in the present.

Enzo Signorelli

© 2008-2019 Pictures and Text Unauthorized Reproduction Prohibited

Lodz, Poland - A Promised Land in the New Europe
The MIG-21 in front of the MOSIR arena in Aleja Politechniki. The aircraft has stood in the square since 2000. Dismantled on May, 2014, the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft, made in the Soviet Union. Its nickname in Polish is ‘Ołówek’: pencil. [©Enzo Signorelli photographer]
Lodz è una città industriale, la seconda per grandezza della Polonia, vera e propria “terra promessa” ai tempi della rivoluzione industriale. Quegli anni sono stati ben raccontati in un film di Andrzej Wajda, tratto dall’omonimo romanzo “Terra promessa” del premio Nobel Wladyslaw Reymont. Wajda aveva studiato a Lodz nella prestigiosa scuola di cinematografia dove si sono formati Kieslowski, Polanski e tanti altri. A Lodz è nato uno dei più grandi pianisti del secolo: Arthur Rubinstein. Ero arrivato in città per fotografare alcuni stabilimenti di una grande società italiana e non sapevo del suo background culturale, né della sua particolare architettura. Del resto a Lodz non ci sono turisti, negozi di souvenir, avventurieri e prostitute negli hotel. E’ una città di lavoro, praticamente sconosciuta. Negli ultimi anni, con l’ingresso della Polonia nella Comunità Europea, Lodz è tornata ad essere, per la seconda volta in quasi due secoli, “terra promessa” per l’edilizia e per la grande industria moderna. E così le vecchie fabbriche in mattoni sono state in parte riconvertite in uffici, loft, centri commerciali, hotel di design, gallerie d’arte. Nuovi edifici e moderni stabilimenti sorgono accanto ai boulevard mitteleuropei, ai blocks del socialismo, ai palazzi liberty del centro, alle imponenti fabbriche dell’Ottocento. Monumenti di un’era non ancora conclusa.

© Enzo Signorelli

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Lodz, Poland - A Promised Land in the New Europe
Old factory demolition and rebuilding near aleja Politechniki [©Enzo Signorelli photographer]

Lodz, Poland - A Promised Land in the New Europe
‘Hare you hungry?’. An old billboard in Tymienieckiego street advertising a restaurant. [©Enzo Signorelli photographer]

Enzo Signorelli

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6 risposte a “Lodz, Poland – A Promised Land in the New Europe”

  1. Avatar Virginia Duran
    Virginia Duran

    Beautiful pictures!

    Rispondi
    1. Avatar Enzo Signorelli
      Enzo Signorelli

      Thanks Virginia. It’s a selection from a photo exhibition of mine…

      Rispondi
      1. Avatar Virginia Duran
        Virginia Duran

        I really liked it! Just discovered your blog by the way and I’m enjoting it!

        Rispondi
  2. Avatar Enzo Signorelli
    Enzo Signorelli

    I am just looking your blog, so interesting! Ty, stay tuned!

    Rispondi
  3. Avatar Marcelina
    Marcelina

    Hello,
    The city is changing constantly. Your pictures have already a value of history/document. That “old advertising in ul. Tymienieckiego” doesn’t exist anymore, probably will be a new buidling there. That plane in front of the Sports Hall in aleja Politechniki is already removed.
    Please mind that the picture – which I adore very much – titled “Old textile factory in ul. Kopcinskiego” in fact is showing an old vodka factory (today a new project is starting there, R.Horovitz is already inside). Do you consider to join Fotofestiwal in Lodz with your pictures? http://www.fotofestiwal.com/2014/en/?langmain=en It would be nice to see them again in our city.

    Rispondi
    1. Avatar Enzo Signorelli
      Enzo Signorelli

      Hello Marzi, thank you very much for your contribute. Yes, of course I would like to come back, reporting the new city and meet my special friends there. About Lodz Fotofestiwal, It could be a very nice opportunity. I am looking forward to get an invite…

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