Stalownia

Michal Kucharski received a grant for the development of new work. A massive steel plant once at the heart of a vast socialist-era industrial zone in southern Poland, has opened and closed multiple times, leaving a lasting mark on the region’s economy and its people. Its monumental structures still define the landscape, visible from nearby windows. For those who grew up in its shadow, the plant was both familiar and unreachable: its flame briefly lighting the horizon, its inner workings left to imagination. Driven by that curiosity, Michal develops a sculptural video installation based in metal. His experiments with producing sound directly through metal, combined with new video work, come together to form an immersive installation.

Michal is a visual artist and filmmaker based in The Hague and an alumnus of the Royal Academy of Art. Specializing in cinematography and photography, he explores human relations and social behaviors in staged contexts. With a background in film production, he collaborates with actors and the public to craft intimate narratives for his installations. A Youngblood Foundation Residency winner and Lakeside Collection nominee, Michal focuses on post-industrial landscapes, creating immersive works that blur the boundaries between reality and fiction.