HOMANITY

        HOMANITY: Redefining Home and Belonging is the first phase of a dynamic, ongoing project that examines the shifting concept of home in the context of contemporary global challenges. Presented at A Space Gallery in Venice, this exhibition introduces visitors to the core ideas behind HOMANITY, exploring how the notion of home is evolving in response to housing crises, forced migration, and changing social structures.

In this initial presentation, the gallery space is intentionally minimalistic, presenting only the foundational concepts and ideas behind the project. Using panels, texts, and abstract visual elements, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on home as a process — not a fixed structure. The work challenges traditional views, proposing that home is not a physical place but rather an organic, evolving space shaped by relationships, care, and identity.

        Through this first phase, HOMANITY offers a conceptual framework for thinking about home in the 21st century. It prompts viewers to consider questions of belonging, rootedness, and selfhood, exploring home as a space where personal and collective histories converge. The exhibition introduces the idea of home not as an isolated entity, but as a dynamic space of shared existence, rootedness, and ongoing negotiation between the individual and the world.

What is HOMANITY?

HOMANITY is a neologism coined to describe a transformative concept that merges home and humanity. In essence, it is a conceptual framework for thinking about home as a dynamic, evolving space that goes beyond its physical form. It redefines home not as a static building or structure, but as an ongoing, relational process shaped by individual and collective experiences, human needs, and the environment.

This idea of HOMANITY was born from the collaboration between Monika Turczyńska (curator and artist) and Alicja Maciejko (architect, artist, and researcher). Together, they developed the concept with the aim of addressing pressing contemporary issues such as the housing crisis, forced migration, and changing social structures. HOMANITY seeks to shift our understanding of home and belonging, exploring these notions from both an architectural and artistic perspective.

The Concept of HOMANITY

The word HOMANITY combines two core ideas:

• HOME + HUMANITY – Home as a basic need, a space of shared existence and care.

• HOME + IDENTITY – Home as the foundation of selfhood and personal history, where identity is formed and transformed.

• HOME + ENTITY – Home as a dynamic and ever-evolving structure, shaped by both the individual and collective narratives.

        At its core, HOMANITY is a philosophical and artistic exploration of home as a continuous process rather than a fixed location. It acknowledges the deeply personal and social aspects of belonging, where home is seen as a space of relationality, care, and adaptation to ever-changing contexts.

HOMANITY: A Project that Connects Art and Architecture

In HOMANITY, art and architecture intertwine, forming a dialogue that reflects on the social and emotional aspects of home. The project has been developed through a series of exhibitions and artistic interventions, each phase building on the last to explore various facets of home, identity, and belonging.

         The first phase of HOMANITY focused on conceptualizing home as a process, using abstract and minimalistic installations to provoke thought about the intangible elements that make a space feel like home: warmth, protection, and human connection.

The second phase expanded the concept into the realm of architecture, with Alicja Maciejko leading the design of modular homes by architecture students at the University of Zielona Góra. These homes were not just architectural models, but relational spaces designed to respond to the emotional and psychological needs of their inhabitants.

Why HOMANITY?

HOMANITY emerged in response to the global challenges of the 21st century, where home has become an increasingly precarious concept due to housing crises, forced displacement, and social upheaval. As millions of people lose their homes and new generations struggle to access adequate housing, the question arises: What does it mean to have a home in today's world?

HOMANITY asks the fundamental question:
Is home a privilege or a fundamental human right?

Through its interdisciplinary approach, HOMANITY uses art, architecture, and philosophy to explore new perspectives on home, moving beyond the traditional understanding of home as a physical space and rethinking it as a process of belonging, care, and human connection.

The Role of Art and Architecture in HOMANITY

In addition to the conceptual artworks by Józef Krzysztof Oraczewski, HOMANITY incorporates architectural interventions, bringing together diverse voices from the fields of art, architecture, and social thought. The collaborative efforts of Alicja Maciejko, Monika Turczyńska, and the students of the University of Zielona Góra have created a space for experimentation and dialogue, where new forms of living and relating can be imagined.

Through HOMANITY, the project goes beyond the traditional exhibition format. It serves as an open, evolving space where art and architecture come together to explore the fundamental aspects of our existence, our place in the world, and our relationships with others.

The significance of HOMANITY lies in its interdisciplinary nature, its commitment to addressing pressing social issues, and its ability to inspire new ways of thinking about home. Through the lens of art and architecture, HOMANITY challenges conventional ideas and offers new, forward-thinking solutions for the future of living, belonging, and community.

By highlighting the importance of care and relationality in the creation of spaces, HOMANITY opens up new possibilities for what home can be and how it can be experienced in a rapidly changing world.