The Miracle District (ongoing)
Zakaczawie (eng. za-catch-a-vie; the name comes from the little river Kaczawa) is a district of Legnica, a hundred-thousand people city in southwestern Poland, some 100 kilometers from the German border.
After the Second World War, right until the 1990s, most of the city became a home and headquarters to a large Soviet military garrison. During this challenging period, Zakaczawie became an unofficial refuge of Polish social and cultural life. In the late Communist era, most of Zakaczawie inhabitants were families of railwaymen working on large railway hub located nearby. There was also a strong Romani society forcefully migrated there as a part of so-called integration action, as well as a colorful mix of small businesses, cafes, pubs and cultural venues.
Such a thriving societal melting pot was called by its citizens “the Miracle District”. Its colorful life became the inspiration for a pretty well known theatrical play called “Ballad of Zakaczawie”, which brought it some countrywide recognition.
Unfortunately after the fall of the Iron Curtain Zakaczawie shared the fate of many other districts and towns, becoming left out by dynamics of early age Polish capitalism, omitted by the large commercial investments, then falling into disrepair. The social and cultural venues became unprofitable then largely forgotten. Today the Miracle District nickname gained a bitter ironic edge.
Societal structure changed as well, but the citizens of Zakaczawie still retain a strong sense of community. Many people actively decide to stay there despite the challenging conditions. However, in contrast to the largely isolationist postmodern districts, Zakaczawie’s charm lies in relationships between generations of neighbors. People tend to help each other a little more than outside.
This body of work is aimed to show the district’s contemporary portrait, with both its colorful appeal and post-communist decay, and reflect if the legend of the Miracle District stays alive.