Laundry Room
Arkadiusz Kubisiak | Pionki, Poland
Photographer: Arkadiusz Kubisiak
Exhibit Title: Laundry Room
Location: Pionki, Poland
People with intellectual disabilities make up about 3% of the population of Poland. The same is true for Pionki, a town in Masovia, Poland.
These persons could often be seen wandering the town's streets, prompting city authorities to establish the Center almost 25 years ago. A puppet theater was also created there, where they became actors.
The actor wears the puppet like a costume to give it personality and bring it to life. The Theater stages classic fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White. Over all these years, they have developed eight different fairy tale performances and created numerous puppets.
Most theater plays take place outdoors, primarily for children. The troupe also organizes street parades. Sometimes, they even travel across the country to present a show when invited.
The Center's staff have created a close-knit team that functions like a family. They organize kayaking regattas and participate in forest cleanup events on World Earth Day. They also exercise at the gym together and celebrate each other's birthdays. Almost everyone knows them, and they serve the community.
Recently, I witnessed a fragment of a performance created by the Laundry Room Theater from Pionki, Poland, which featured large puppets. It was a visually stunning and captivating experience. The actors in this theater are individuals with mental disabilities who have been coming to a specially designed Center for them for over 25 years.
In the spring of 2023, I reached out to the Center's director with a proposal to tell the story of the Theater, the Center, and its people. However, finding time for additional activities in their busy schedules proved to be a challenge. We initially began working on a reportage about the individuals and the everyday life at the Center.
We encountered difficulties in photographing the theater scenes and puppets due to the scale and nature of the production. Over the past 25 years, the Theater has created more than 100 puppets and designed scenes featuring large machines, dragons, time machines, small houses, horse-drawn carriages, and giant slingshots. To capture all of this, we needed to build a large outdoor studio with a white background and outdoor lighting equipped with large modifiers to mimic natural light.
I was truly impressed by the cooperation at the Center. The participants embraced their roles and lived as a unified family. They knew each other well, pursued their interests with dedication, and worked with a strong sense of purpose.
The creative expression found in theatrical work is incredibly valuable for the health, development, and social integration of individuals with intellectual disabilities. It’s heartwarming to see how this also benefits others. While theatrical plays are primarily performed for children, I had the chance to attend a performance celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Center, which received high praise from the adult audience.
I am incredibly grateful to the entire team at the Center. Their support throughout the entire project was invaluable, and without them, this material would not have been created.
a.kubisiak@icloud.com
+48691658104
arkadiuszkubisiak.com
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