The Guardians of the Spire

The large building in “Guardians of the Spire” is the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, formerly known as the Joseph Stalin Palace of Culture and Science. Built in 1952-55 as a gift from the Soviet Union to the Polish people, it received a frosty welcome, as it was seen as a symbol of Soviet dominance over the People’s Republic of Poland. In the foreground, Polish citizens are protesting outside the Palace. In her monumental pictorial narrative, Kulik reflects experiences from the history of communist Poland. Often applying a feminist perspective, she analyses how propaganda and mass media operate in society, and explores the role of language in the relationship between individuals and the authoritarian institution.