Living Things in the Extractivist Ruins. Diana Lelonek in Conversation with Jakub Gawkowski

Abstract

This dialogue explores the multifaceted relationship between artistic practice, environmental discourse, and personal memory through the lens of Polish visual artist Diana Lelonek’s work related to the post-industrial and post-extractivist landscapes. In conversation with curator Jakub Gawkowski, Lelonek reflects on her upbringing in Dąbrowa Górnicza in Dąbrowa Basin, revealing its profound impact on her sensibilities and thematic exploration. Emphasizing the interconnectedness of human and non-human entities, Lelonek delves into her engagement with the Anthropocene and the redefinition of nature within a post-industrial context and landscape transformation. The dialogue allows for an examination of the development of Lelonek’s practice, her celebration of the resilience of ruderal flora, as well as negotiation of dualities. Through a critical lens, the conversation interrogates populist and nostalgic narratives about natural environment, highlighting the complexities of human-nature entanglements.