‘Wyspy Tuli Tuli’ – when design becomes fun
Data publikacji:
‘Wyspy Tuli Tuli: Wakacje Pod Kolumnami’ is a multi-sensory exhibition at the Pod Kolumnami Club by Wrocław-based artist Patrycja Mastej, who shows that art can be inspiring and safe, as well as accessible to people of all ages.
The project’s distinguishing feature is its soft forms, which encourage direct interaction. They can be picked up, moved, cuddled, arranged, and explored in whatever way one chooses; the objects themselves are not off-the-shelf items, but were largely created by hand through a process of design and sewing. The project was carried out by Aleksandra Mastej and Barbara Rychłowska, as well as the caretakers of the Pod Kolumnami Club: Katarzyna Iwanio-Kozak, Jutrzenka Duchnowska and Aleksandra Podlejska.
‘The exhibition takes the form of an interactive installation that changes in response to visitors’ activity and presence. We welcome children aged zero to ten, who can expand the scope of their imagination here, rearrange the elements as they please, and immerse themselves in tactile shapes and a multi-sensory experience. (…) The exhibition stimulates the imagination and consists of a vast number of organic shapes. Some are plant-like, some human, and some animal-like. Nothing is strictly defined, but everything offers the opportunity to interpret and create your own story.” – Patrycja Mastej
The entire project has a clear educational dimension: it stimulates curiosity, encourages independence and inspires children to discover the world through hands-on activities, which is why ‘Wyspy’ move beyond the notion of a gallery as a place for passive viewing and transforms art into an experience in which the child becomes an active participant, able to explore, experiment, move, and create their own play scenarios.
Art created for children
It is not the form that is the starting point here, but the children and the way they explore the world. It is this perspective that guides the project, which is why these shapes are safe, intuitive, and open to various interpretations. Rather than imposing a single way of using them, they leave room for children’s own ideas, encouraging them to explore, test and discover what they can become through play. In this case, art stops being something just to look at and becomes part of everyday life. It takes the form of soft structures, elements and spaces that encourage both movement and relaxation.
Art for children is often taken too literally, as if its sole purpose were to explain or simplify, yet it can function very differently – it can open minds, surprise and leave room for one’s own ideas. This is the approach taken by Patrycja Mastej, who for years has been developing a practice based on creating forms that are accessible and engaging regardless of age. Her projects do not divide audiences into ‘little ones’ and ‘grown-ups’, but invite everyone to participate together, with meaning emerging as the activity takes place. As a result, her works are not self-contained objects, but situations that can be co-created and experienced in one’s own way.
‘Wyspy Tuli Tuli’ demonstrate that a work of art doesn’t have to be distant or intimidating. It can be soft, friendly, interactive and connected to the body, and thus more accessible to a child’s sensibility. The installation also features multimedia and sound elements created by Sebastian Sobótka and Konrad Gęca, which enhance the immersive nature of the entire project.
Co-funded by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund as part of the ‘Artistic Events for Children and Young People 2026’ programme, under the project ‘Wyspy Tuli Tuli: Wakacje Pod Kolumnami’. Amount of funding: 61,000.00 PLN; Total value of the project: 78,000.00 PLN; Date of contract signing: June 2026.
The ‘Wyspy Tuli Tuli: wakacje pod kolumnami’ project is an artistic programme for children aged 0–10, which combines the visual and performing arts. At the Klub pod Kolumnami in June and July 2026, Wrocław-based visual artist Patrycja Mastej will present a multi-sensory, interactive exhibition, whilst Natalia Drozd – a Wrocław-based dance artist – will direct a premiere choreographic performance inspired by its forms and themes.
Media patronage: https://www.maluchy.pl/, https://poradnikrodzinny.pl/.
