About PeWuKa
What was the General National Exhibition?
_01
In 2024 we celebrate the 94th anniversary of opening...
the General National Exhibition This unique exhibition project reflected the dynamics of the reborn Polish state, its modern character and strongly influenced the shape and future of Poznan. The General National Exhibition (known also as “PeWuKa” after its Polish initials PWK) was a breath of modernity in a country that was very diversified economically and socially. The exhibition presented achievements of Polish industry (including: heavy industry, oil, mining and metallurgy, textile, leather, confectionery, timber, construction, food and chemical), trade, agriculture, social welfare, physical education, sports, culture, art and science.
_02
Visitors leaving Poznan were fascinated…
...by the city, modern architecture of halls, attractions and most of all - by the interesting exhibition. The event gathered 1427 exhibitors, and the number of visitors reached 4.5 million. The exhibition area was 65 hectares, where 112 exhibition objects were installed. Construction works were performed by 1,200 workers and this number was almost tripled by those working in workshops and preparing individual exhibition stands and display elements. PWK lasted for 138 days
_03
Never before, and never again...
...Poles have organised such a grand-scale exhibition, which currently may be compared to the World EXPO or the largest international congresses. The General National Exhibition (PWK) was an event during which Polish entrepreneurs and inventors presented a number of innovative solutions. The phenomenon of PWK is still worth exploring, as it is still of lesser-known parts of the history of the city, region and the whole country.
_04
This event and its host country, which only 10 years earlier...
...had regained its independence, was interesting for the world press, which published nearly 20 thousand articles about it. Journalists from Czechoslovakia, the USA or France praised the momentum and organization of the exhibition. A British journalist wrote in "Daily Mail" "PWK clearly proves what the Poles earned by their hard work and economic approach. By this exhibition they show that there is no product which they cannot fabricate. These people are so clever that they can do anything they want."
People of PeWuKa
_01
The concept of the General National Exhibition was created...
…by the president of its Main Board - Cyryl Ratajski, who was also the Mayor of Poznan in the years 1922-1934. PeWuKa is one of his most important achievements, and also the key moment in the development of Poznan as a vibrant economic centre and the city of trade and exhibitions. For organizing the exhibition, together with Stanislaw Wachowiak (chairman of the board and chief executive of PeWuKa), Cyryl Ratajski was awarded the Grand Ribbon of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
_02
But before the General National Exhibition was organised...
…the fairgrounds were created and they exist to this day, being an important element of Poznan image. The creator of the concept was Edward Mazurkiewicz and without his bold vision the General National Exhibition and current Poznan International Fair would never reach its great significance. Currently the activities of MTP GROUP are much broader and they include not only trade fairs, but also large-scale events, concerts, sports competitions, business meetings and many accompanying services required by companies and participants to carry out business activities, promote themselves or simply entertain.
_03
The symbol of the exhibition are buildings...
...which were designed specifically for the occasion. The main architect of PeWuKa was Roger Sławski. He was born and worked in Poznan and the city has appreciated his contribution by naming one of its street after the architect. He designed for the Exhibition the Hall of Heavy Industry and the fountain in Wilson Park, which was then the largest fountain in Europe
_04
Together with the General National Exhibition...
...Poznan opened itself for modernism. Some of the trade fair halls were designed by prominent architects of this period. Describing architecture of PeWuKa, we have to mention the representatives of architectural avant-garde of that time, including: Bohdan Lachert and Jozef Szanajca (Centrocement Hall), Anatolia Hryniewicka-Piotrowska (Working Women Hall) and Szymon Syrkus (Hall of Fertilizers).
Layout of PeWuKa
_01
The exposition area was is divided into several sectors...
…where only Polish entrepreneurs presented their offer (the exception was the Emigration Department). Sector A, included halls for industrial and commercial exhibitors, but it was also used for representative purposes. This area had already been used for trade fair in the years 1921-1925 during Prussian exhibitions, including East German exhibition of 1911. Another interesting structure the Upper Silesian Tower (now called the "Spire" - hall No. 11), which marked the area for displaying precision tools and products of National Engineering Works: cars, trucks, boats and bicycles.
_02
Sector B…
... included halls for government, ministerial, sports, art, science and culture projects, as well as automotive and aviation industries. Some buildings of characteristic, monumental architecture are still used by Poznan residents. They include for example the Government Palace turned into the Collegium Chemicum where students of Adam Mickiewicz University and the Medical University learn chemistry, the Palace of Fine Arts - currently Collegium Anatomicum (Medical University) or the Palace of Physical Education and Welfare is now used by the School of Commerce of Heroes of Poznan June '56.
_03
Sekcor C...
... located mainly in Wilson Park, included the Central Restaurant (formerly the malt house of Hugger brewery), but above all the Hall of Working Women. Patronage over this part of the exhibition was held by Michalina Moscicka, wife of the Polish President. This strong presence of women at PeWuKa showed the appreciation of their importance in regaining and consolidating the independence of the state. The hall showed the visitors hard work of Polish women and their daily efforts that resulted in their right to vote gained 10 years earlier. The matter of women's emancipation was very important at that time ans Poland was one of a few countries in the world, which advertised it.
_04
Sector D and E…
…included other areas of PeWuKa. Sector D was intended for small shops and for buildings of the Chamber of Commerce and the Red Cross. This was the area, where temporary halls were constructed of wood. They were disassembled immediately after the event. Sector E, organised at the fields of St. Lazarus (now Lazarz district and Kasprowicz Park), was the largest and most architecturally diverse, because it was dedicated to all kinds of industry. These grounds were used to organise a stadium and an amusement park.
Architecture
_01
The most representative buildings of PeWuKa included...
...vestibule (Representative Hall) with a white tower and the main entrance and the adjacent hall with columns designed for the textile industry, which presented huge loom machines. The vestibule was heavily damaged during the war bombing, but it has been rebuilt according to the original design. Today it is Hall No. 3 of the trade fair. Moving forward, the visitors entered a courtyard with columns, which was inspired by Venice and named St. Marks' Square.
_02
Monumental Hall of Heavy Industry...
...was constructed specially for the General National Exhibition (now Hall No. 2). The building had a form of concrete basilica and a rectangular shape. It was constructed using a completely new method of roofing with a pioneering three-hinged expanding frame, which supported a gabled roof of the main aisle. The hall was richly decorated with details in art deco style, including illuminated, glass capitals. The facade was decorated with sculptures personifying the industry.
_03
The hall of the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs...
...was designed by Juljan Puterman and Antoni Miszewskio, architects from Warsaw. This hall is one of the most interesting modernist objects build for the General National Exhibition. Unfortunately, designed as a temporary hall, it was disassembled after the event.
_04
The hall of Liqueur and Cognac Industry...
...was another structure disassembled after the event, but in 1929 it aroused a widespread interest of visitors. It was also called the Hall of Vodka Industry. This structure, designed by Jerzy Müller, had four very distinctive towers.
Art and culture
_01
The General National Exhibition presented Polish achievements in the field of industry...
...but also in art. As the exhibition bulletin informed: "The dignity of the nation and its right to play the same role as other globally leading nations are determined not only by the level of material culture, but above all, the state and level of spiritual culture, where artistic creativity is the most characteristic exponent".
_02
The Palace of Arts was a building...
...where the works of Polish artists were displayed. The visitors were presented with the works of many artists, including: Olga Boznańska, Juliusz Kossak, Aleksander Gierymski, Jan Matejko, Henryk Siemiradzki, Władysław Podkowiński, Leon Wyczółkowski and Stanisław Wyspiański.
_03
Also modern artists were invited to present their art...
...for example the Association of Visual Artists "Preasens". Their works were displayed not only in the Palace of Arts. This group designed also one of the exhibition hall, i.e. the Hall of Monopolies and Mint as well as the stand Mianowski Fund in the Government Palace.
_04
When writing about art at the General National Exhibition...
...we must mention the sculptures presented at the fairgrounds. The most characteristic monuments included "Nude with dolphin" by Marcin Rożek, "Ewa", "the Sower" placed at the foot of the Upper Silesian Tower and the spectacular sculpture representing the agriculture.
Entertainment
_01
The organisers of the General National Exhibition did not forget about...
...entertainment and attractions for the visitors. They announced that: "In order to make the visit to exhibition even more interesting for adults and children, as well as to provide relaxation after tiring strolls among countless exhibition halls, the Management organised many entertainment events, shows, performances and games".
_02
Amusement park...
...was an attraction specially organised for guests of PWK. The park offered visitors a 20-meter waterfall, Ferris wheel, a roller-coaster that was one of the largest in Europe (120 m) and the largest European water slide (92 m). The guests could enjoy a ride on one of 25 scooters, hop-on to an auto-train with 15 cars or to Opel rail vehicle. The kids enjoyed riding 'wild donkeys' i.e. shaking vehicles with heads of animals. The term "Amusement Park" was used for the first time in Poland at the exhibition - it replaced the previously used concept of "Luna Park".
_03
The visitors admired...
...incredible, exotic plants and animal species in the Palm House. This structure made of metal and glass was built at the beginning of the twentieth century, but for the exhibition it was reconstructed to triple its area. This made it the most interesting building of this type in Poland. The visitors could also relax in many cafés, tea rooms and restaurants. Gentlemen enjoyed also the first Polish peep show.
_04
Another attraction for PeWuKa visitors ...
...was the Poznan Zoo. For the guests of the exhibition, the existing animal park was modernized (a new entrance was opened at Zwierzyniecka St.), fenced and furnished with interesting sculptures, e.g. the sculpture of a marabou, which still stands in its place. The zoo presented elephants, lions, tigers, monkeys, and even polar bears.
