Murale w przestrzeni miasta. Analiza funkcji i rozmieszczenia na przykładzie Słupska

Abstract

Mural art is popular in many cities in Poland. Słupsk is one of them. The main goal of the paper is to present the distribution, theme, and functions of the murals in Słupsk. In the space of this medium-sized city situated in Pomerania region 40 murals have been catalogued and described according to the adopted criteria, thus obtaining detailed information about their location and subject matter. Most of Słupsk’s murals are in the Old Town, especially located in the revitalized area. The analysis of their detailed location shows that they are both in prominent places (main streets and squares) and in less visible places (side streets, gates, garage walls). The themes of murals in Słupsk are diverse. In-depth interviews with representatives of the city hall, cultural centre, tourist information centre, a foundation operating in the field of culture, social activation, and education, as well as mural artists in Słupsk allowed also to obtain information on the murals’ functions and paths of their creation in the urban space. Respondents emphasized the importance of murals in the revitalization of the city and drew attention to their educational, tourist and promotional function.