Or how a conservative senior might find steam rising from his loafers upon entering spaces where youth refuses to stay silent. After a coffee in the nearly empty contemporary art gallery NOMUS, we found ourselves in the shipyard docks by evening, amidst bridge graffiti, on Elektryków Street, and within the 100cznia complex. Johny’s notions of “conservative values and normalcy” crumbled like an axe in a cyberpunk forge.
Nomus Gallery
But gradually. First we visited the Nomus contemporary art gallery. Mistake. They were just installing a new exhibition and we saw one (in a word, one) exhibit. The truly minimalist approach was only saved by the perfect espresso.
At first, it seemed like a typical outing. Seniors with eternally liberal souls, slightly conservative minds, and numerous years under their belts, still believing that the pinnacle of cultural achievement lies in museums, monuments, cafes, and a bottle of fine wine, stumbled upon a multicultural youth zone.
Techno, Chill, and Graffiti
This isn’t retro. This is the future, adorned with graffiti and beats. Elektryków Street and 100cznia are former industrial spaces in Gdańsk. A place where a Bratislava developer might say, “A bulldozer should level this.”
Local youth respond: “No. We’ll set up a bar here and live. Here, we’ll dance, create, and breathe fully.”
And the enlightened city officials (like those in Gdańsk) listen.
It’s not sterile hipsterization. It’s urban rebellion with soul. From rusty spaces, old docks, and workshops, they’ve crafted temples of free life. Think of it as Bratislava’s Cvernovka, tripled. Street art, containers, lights, beats, stages, bars, books, design, second-hand shops, vegan burgers, techno, experimental jazz, and impromptu existential discussions right next to a plastic porta-potty, which we promptly used.
The Ten Commandments of 100cznia
Yes, they actually have them. Johny sat on a bench and read aloud:
- Remember, we’re all here together.
- Protect this zone as your second home.
- Be kind, open, respectful.
- Say hello. With a smile.
- Not harming = helping.
- Leave your prejudices at the gate.
- Keep an open mind, and when possible, your wallet too.
- Clean up after yourself, not others.
- Share. Experiences, space, respect.
- And most importantly: be present. Truly.
“Is this some secular gospel?” Johny asked.
“No. It’s the reality of a young generation that doesn’t wait for an invitation to the table. They build it from pallets themselves.“ I still struggle to understand what bothers many conservatives about these values.
Youth Owns Cities Their Parents Don’t Know About
This phenomenon isn’t unique to Gdańsk. Every major city has similar spaces:
- Dresden: Alaunstrasse and Neustadt, with bunkers turned into galleries.
- Berlin: The entire Kreuzberg district, where anarchy is sipped through a straw.
- Rome: Trastevere and squats near the station, where Dante is recited to a beat.
- Krakow: Kazimierz and Dolne Młyny – the city’s cultural gut.
- Prague: DOX and Holešovice.
These aren’t cafes with artificial flowers in vases and lattes. They’re urban organs of youth, pumping courage into structures that refuse to die from prohibitions and bureaucratic infarctions.
Generational Clash: Senior vs. Drum’n’Bass
Johny held on for a while. We tasted Indian veal masala with fresh coriander, sipped craft beer, and debated with a twenty-something about whether techno needs melody and if she’s content with life. But then…
A group of dancers arrived. In the middle of the day. Just like that. They began to improvise. Someone in Slovakia might pull out their legendary phrase: “And who benefits from this? Is this art?”
“Sure, it is,” we reply.
Fortunately, we wouldn’t hear such criticisms anyway, because the 100cznia DJ had just switched to an acid beat, and the floor literally vibrated. And then something strange happened. Our old bodies began to sway.
“What the hell?” Johny gasped.
“It’s just our souls trying to rejuvenate,” I replied.
Conclusion for Those Who Think “Youth Is Lost”:
No. The young generation isn’t lost. It’s emerging everywhere and can’t be stopped. It’s in 100cznia, in Berlin, in a cornfield in Poland, inside a rap night in Rome. And everywhere, it’s striving for the same thing: to live life fully and with quality.
They’re not lost. They just don’t want to wait for someone to let them into the museum. They don’t want to hear what they can and can’t do. They’re standing on their own.
So, if you want to experience a cultural shock…
…and find a sticker in your shoe the next morning that says “Respect the zone,” if you want to feel like a witness to the future and a statistical anomaly simultaneously, head to the shipyard docks in Gdańsk and visit the container town of 100cznia and Elektryków Street (they’re right next to each other).
You might find young people in leather jackets, because both techno and metal thrive here. You’ll likely see youths lounging with drinks on beach chairs among cranes, in the midst of century-old docks. Perhaps you’ll spot graffiti artists crafting their next masterpiece. But you’ll certainly find energy, urban youth brimming with dreams and ideals, who don’t deceive others or themselves. Who don’t hate, don’t grumble about the world, don’t seek scapegoats elsewhere, but act. And most importantly, live fully.
If you’re on the more conservative side, this visit might leave your head steaming for a week. There’s plenty to ponder. Where are we headed?
Epilogue
In nearly every city I visit, I seek out modern art galleries. They inspire me, provoke, challenge, and compel reflection. Many of the works I’ve seen in 100cznia’s underground galleries could easily hold their own in NOMUS or other contemporary art spaces. The only difference here is that the artists don’t take themselves too seriously. 🙂
