Dictionary of a Contemporary Pole

Dictionary of a Contemporary Pole

“Dictionary of a Contemporary Pole” is an exhibition of the works of the artists from Toruń. It was organised in June 2021 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Samuel Bogumił Linde.

The exhibition was prepared in honour of Samuel Bogusław Linde, an outstanding inhabitant of Toruń, the author of the first professional dictionary of the Polish language. In 2021 Galeria Rusz have chosen Bogusław Linde as their patron in order to honour, commemorate, celebrate, and appreciate the masterpiece of this brilliant lexicographer, highly distinguished for the Polish culture. The output of the artists of Toruń has been deeply rooted in the Polish language and Polish culture for many years. For this reason, the artists decided to face Linde’s heritage and reflect it in their new works. They referred to Linde’s greatest achievement, i.e. the six-volume “Dictionary of the Polish Language” published in Warsaw between 1807 and 1814. This was the first monolingual dictionary of the Polish language. It contained 60,000 entries and was the largest and most expensive publishing venture in the Dutchy of Warsaw. This dictionary became an extremely important and pioneer scientific achievement, revolutionary at that time, and responding to new enlightenment currents.

We selected 6 words, in our opinion most characteristic for the language of a contemporary Pole, referring to 6 volumes of Linde’s Dictionary. These are: rebellion, conflict, truth, the past, rightness, and guilt. Each of our 6 works is the interpretation of a given entry, says Joanna Górska.

The artists created works devoted to the words, lost meanings of the words, and re-discovered meanings. Each epoch needs new words, new meanings and a new language, as language is a tool that explains culture and helps us understand the surrounding world, which Linde thoroughly proved in his immortal masterpiece, says Rafał Góralski. We often forget about it, making a very poor, even primitive, use of our native language. Therefore, this is essential to get to know, rediscover and recall this richness of the language.

The works of the artists from Galeria Rusz were exhibited from 1 June to 30 June 2021 on 2 billboards at Szosa Chełmińska and Wały gen. Sikorskiego, on 6 citylights at various places around the city, and on one of the city buses.