Szyb Krystyna

Abondoned and demolished ‘Krystyna’ shaft is a sign of the times the region of Silesia is experiencing. Once a monumental industrial tower, translated into 193 wooden pieces, making the reconstruction of history easy and accessible.

Since its construction in 1873, the Krystyna shaft changed its name twice and countries four times. Now neglected, it reminds locals of the region's lost identity amid ever-changing rulers and nations.

This handmade portable version of the monument raises the question of abandonment — both of historical facts and the artifacts that remain. In the bittersweet metaphor of a game of Jenga, players can  — literally  — take matters into their own hands. As long as the questions remain unanswered, at least we can have some fun.

︎︎︎ On the right: current state of the original Krystyna shaft.