5.5. SYMBOLIC CONTEXT Looking at the site from the perspective of semiotics based on the previous empirical study, history and observations, symbolic analysis tries to look for signs to interpret the identity of the site. Questions such as, what are the signs that led me to interpret identity as trauma? How is it characterized in the physical realm? What is the narrative (meaning) of the site by “talking to the landscape”? lead to conclusions presented in this sub-chapter. Semiotic analysis allows to look for a hidden meaning which broaden the spectrum of investigation of the empirical site observation. Moreover, it supports the argument that trauma at the Parade Square comes from a violent Polish past. By looking at physical characteristics of the site which refer to violent historical events, with trauma attached to that, it concludes that trauma is part of a physical space. The knowledge of how that is reflected, helps to establish design aims represented in a landmark design to communicate the same trauma using physical space. The method of the analytical framework for the site analysis contained three layers to investigate: 1. Physical aspects (to perceive the site by the empirical study) 2. Historical events (relate it to the past events based on the historical analysis) 3. Symbolic meaning attached to the historical events (what does that past mean and how does that historical meaning transfer to the present (transferring historical meaning to the present))
1.
ICON MANY ICONIC SIGNS (COLOR, MATERIALS, SCALE, FUNCTION)
2.
INDEX AT THE SAME TIME AN INDEX FOR HISTORICAL EVENT WHICH CAUSED THE EXISTENCE OF THAT BUILDING
3.
SYMBOL AT THE END A SYMBOL ATTACHED TO HISTORICAL EVENTS
1 BUILDING 1 OBJECT
Fig. 5.40: The concept of semiotic analysis based in the Palace of Culture and Science (drawing by the author)
Fig. 5.41: The relief above the entrance to the Palace of Culture ans Science representing allegory of the Socialist ideology (author: J. Zieliński)
59 THE GARDEN OF TEARS.
The object of investigation is a result of a historical event that is expressed in a collection of representations (signs) and the event is interpretive through those signs (icons, indexes and symbols). The analysis shows the way of interpretation of the site of the Palace of Culture and Science and the Parade Square by studying signs to interpret what is the meaning of that site. The Palace of Culture By the empirical observation, the building presents many iconic signs that are indexes for historical events that have a negative symbolic meaning. Besides of its inhuman scale it has foreign icons embedded in the facade in a form of reliefs and sculptures (Fig 5.42). Introducing a new ideological symbolics would create a visual system which would influence the perception and replace images inherited and shaped by native culture, religion and art (Baraniewski 2014). A strong relation to the difficult history and events which took place there have a severe negative connotation with the building and the site itself which refers to trauma.
Fig. 5.42: One of the many sculptures of the sitting worker holding a bearing at the side of the Palace of Culture and Science (author: M.Skup). Sculptures were representing the cult of work, fields of culture (art, theatre, science) and eminent representatives of Polish culture and science, such as Kopernik (Copernicus) and Mickiewicz (polskisocrealizm.org). ŁUKASZ K. BĄKOWSKI MASTER THESIS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE