2024
bridge tournament, ceramics, light, found artefacts

“Jaszczurówka is a small, cosy, and elegant modern facility that references traditional Pomeranian architecture. Located in the Niedźwiednik estate, it sits in a picturesque, intimate spot among moraine hills, near Oliwa forests, with a distant view of the sea. The guesthouse features a restaurant, a bar, and a breakfast lounge. Tasty meals and a homely atmosphere. Welcome”.
(Description of the former Jaszczurówka guesthouse from the holiday.pl website)

Jaszczurówka is not just a former guesthouse in Niedźwiednik; it is also a part of Zakopane – the name stems from salamanders basking in thermal springs, which the highlanders referred to as lizards (jaszczury in Polish). Although the Niedźwiednik inn was named after its owners, the nearby Góralska (“highlander”) Street, the estate’s mountainous landscape, and the Zakopane Jaszczurówka seem more than coincidental.

Dominika Święcicka explores the space of this building, once used for tourism and now mostly serving the local community. The history of Jaszczurówka guesthouse spanned from 1997 to 2018. Today, the ground floor of the disused facility is rented by the District Council, a bridge club and a senior citizens’ association.

The artist was inspired by the multiple narratives and stories interwoven into a single location. Using found artefacts, including elements from the guesthouse and restaurant, she highlights the surrealism of this multilayered setting, supplementing it with new objects and impressionistic lighting. Święcicka introduces visitors to Jaszczurówka’s unique microclimate, treating it like a “terrarium” – a closed ecosystem where time stands still. Through metaphors related to nature and warmth, she emphasises the organic character of the space. The story of the inn becomes a “frozen image”, a moment where rest, relaxation, and a homely atmosphere are preserved, yet transformed through the facility’s new functions.

The artist has joined forces with the local bridge club and a second, informal group of players. During NARRACJE, they will host an estate-wide bridge tournament in the inn’s oneiric setting. The process of “unearthing” and sharing Jaszczurówka’s history transforms into a collective experience, underscoring that – although the original guesthouse is no longer operational – it remains alive as a space for meetings and collaboration.

DOMINIKA ŚWIĘCICKA studied art at the University of the Arts in Poznań and LUCA in Brussels. She works with ceramics and costumes.