KOPINIOKI
The Igołomia-Wawrzeńczyce commune lies just beyond the eastern borders of Kraków. Despite its proximity to the city, it constitutes a unique microcosm of its own. Due to historical circumstances during the partitions of Poland, these lands lay outside the borders of Galicia, within the territory of Congress Poland (the Russian Partition). The project's title, Kopinioki, refers to this history, as it was once the colloquial name given to the inhabitants of these areas by the people of Kraków. Today, the term is largely forgotten, as is the awareness that as recently as the beginning of the last century, this area served as a kind of borderland. In my project, I explore themes of attachment to tradition, local customs, religiosity, and the recurring spirits of the past. While this is a study of a small local community, it also possesses a universal dimension, illustrating the contemporary realities of rural life.