collages, found objects

The project explores the complexities of nostalgia and the collective perception of the past through objects and images. The personal memories embedded in everyday objects are shared by many people across post-Soviet countries and, at first glance, appear harmless. Yet the fetishization of the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc heritage contributes to the idealization of history, influencing political choices and shaping perceptions of the contemporary geopolitical landscape.

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Across social media platforms, profiles promoting romanticized visions of the communist past, advocating ideas of a new Bolshevik revolution, or celebrating the Young Pioneer movement are becoming increasingly widespread among younger audiences. At the same time, narratives addressing repression, collective trauma, the exploitation of workers, internal colonialism, shortages, and queues attract far less attention from a broad public seeking escape from present-day problems through endless dopamine-driven scrolling.

Using montage as a working method, Shumska ironically deconstructs artefacts from the People’s Republic of Poland (PRL) preserved in the collection of the Museum Kameralne in Gdynia. By reconfiguring these objects, she constructs her own visual narrative while opening a space for a critical dialogue with collective memory.

The project was realized in collaboration with the Museum Kameralne in Gdynia, with the support of the City of Gdynia and the Halo Kultura Association.

Special thanks: Bożena Samburska, Emilia Łowkiel, Anna Kotkiewicz, and the Bochiński Foundation.

Presentations:

2025 – Reconfigurations, Halo Witryna, Halo Kultura Association, Gdynia, Poland