about

Upominki means gifts. Proverbially and in the figure of speech, Upominki functions as a gift shop. While basing its practice on the ideas of hospitality and reciprocity, Upominki seeks to create an alternative to the value of exchange and the gift-giving, two concepts particularly developed within the capitalist economy.  Upominki does not scream with its presence but subtly points to what really matters. Through simple gestures, Upominki aims to stimulate people’s awareness of new possibilities and encourage them to engage in the daily practice of both making and seeing art; it also seeks to continually create new situations through which art and life can connect.

Upominki is a nonprofit project space founded in January 2012 on Coolhaven Island by Rotterdam-based Weronika Zielińska-Klein, who sometimes works with other artists and curators. Today, Upominki operates from the first floor of the artist’s home in the Oude-Westen neighborhood.

Past collaborations include Gill Baldwin, a multidisciplinary artist; Natalia Sorzano, a visual and performance artist; Jesse van Oosten, a curator; and emilia dudziec, a visual artist and producer.