The House We Build

diploma supplement designed at the Fine Arts Academy in Warsaw under the supervision of dr Antonina Konopelska

While my Bachelor thesis focuses on borders and barriers in urban spaces, the artistic supplement translates these reflections on division from the physical world into the emotional one. The House We Build explores how family patterns shape attachment styles and influence relationship building. In this work, I revisit my family home, built by my grandfather, which over the years became a stage for conflicts among its inhabitants. Observing these relationships, I reflect on how their tumultuous stories shaped my emotions and how I relate to others.

By referencing the house’s architecture, I transform the interior—where many disputes took place—into a safe space for reflection. The walls, reconstructed with cotton fabric, are covered with words that form questions as one moves through the labyrinth. These questions serve as tools to help distinguish between what's an inherent part of me and what has grown from fear or defense mechanisms. Translating this reflective process into a physical space encourages one to step out of their head and confront these questions in the real world, either alone or in company.