Krzysztof Gil. Nobody Wants You Here

Venue: Zachęta – National Gallery of Art, pl. Małachowskiego 3, Warsaw

Curator: Monika Weychert
Exhibition design: Mirek Kaczmarek
Copper sculpture production support: Piotr Budzyk
Installation support (Midnight on the Estate): Janek Kamykowski, Christoph Krane

Krzysztof Gil’s exhibition explores contemporary forms of social isolation and exclusion. While segregated districts were once physically separated from the rest of the city by walls and borders, today exclusion is more often embedded in social structures. It affects disadvantaged urban communities, where marginalized groups face limited access to resources and lower standards of living.

The exhibition is rooted in the artist’s Polish-Romani identity and his experience of living between cultures. At Zachęta, Gil examines mechanisms of social exclusion across different historical periods and geographical contexts. His focus extends beyond the tangible consequences of political decisions and urban planning to what might be described as an “isolation of the imagination” — the images, stereotypes, and narratives that precede and legitimize exclusion. Through his work, Gil seeks to challenge these ingrained perceptions, encouraging viewers to reconsider how they see those who have been pushed to the margins of society.

Among the key references informing the exhibition is Ece Temelkuran’s book Together: 10 Choices for a Better Now (Polish edition: Naród obcych. Jak odbudować wspólny dom w XXI wieku, Krytyka Polityczna, 2026). The Turkish journalist and writer proposes a new ethic of solidarity based on the recognition that, in today’s world, anyone can experience displacement, exclusion, or estrangement. Another important source of inspiration comes from the artist’s own memories of his hometown. Gil grew up on a housing estate created as a result of a state policy that forced formerly nomadic communities into permanent settlement. Similar legislation across the socialist bloc contributed to the segregation of Romani communities, the effects of which remain visible today, including in places such as Luník IX. The artist’s childhood coincided with the political and social upheavals of the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period marked by anti-Roma violence, nationalist attacks, and forced emigration, all of which formed part of the lived experience of many Romani people.

Public Programme

Krzysztof Gil’s exhibition at Zachęta serves as a starting point for a broader conversation about marginalization, collective memory, identity, and contemporary forms of exclusion. The accompanying programme, developed by Foundation Towards Dialogue, aims to expand the discussion and encourage reflection on the role of art as a tool for dialogue about the future of European societies.

Through talks, meetings, and educational events, participants will explore the history and experiences of Romani communities as a way of gaining deeper insight into contemporary issues such as migration, social inequality, and the transformations shaping Europe and the wider world. Understanding these processes requires attention to the perspectives of communities that have experienced centuries of marginalization, including the Roma. Only then can we arrive at a more complete understanding of the realities that surround us.

More information about the exhibition is available here.