THE ESSENCE OF THINGS

Interdisciplinary spectacle of sound, image, and identity

September 20, 2025, 8:00 PM
WL4 Mleczny Piotr, Gdansk

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On September 20, 2025, the former Gdansk shipyard space of WL4 Mleczny Piotr will transform into the stage for an extraordinary artistic event – “The Essence of Things”. Organized by NeoArte Association, the project brings together contemporary music, video art, and performance in a unique post-industrial setting.
The evening will feature world premieres of two works commissioned especially for the occasion – by renowned Polish artists Rafał Ryterski and Agata Zemla. Acclaimed actress Anna Kociarz has also been invited to join the project. The program will be completed by the Polish premiere of “Valencia” by Pulitzer Prize–winning American composer Caroline Shaw. All works will be performed by NeoQuartet, the Tricity-based string quartet recognized for its bold, interdisciplinary projects.
“The Essence of Things” is not merely a concert – it is an artistic manifesto and an attempt to redefine what a cultural event can be: entering public space and engaging the audience in the creative process. The multimedia form – with electronics, synthesizers, multichannel sound, and video – raises questions about the role of art in the modern world and its impact on both personal and social development. The project is a tribute to engaged art – addressing themes of identity, ecology, social tensions, and cultural transformations. The industrial interiors of WL4 become not only a backdrop but an integral part of the artistic message.

Artists:
NeoQuartet, Anna Kociarz – recitation, Agata Zemla – electronics, Rafał Ryterski – electronics

Program:
Caroline Shaw – Valencia
Agata Zemla – Greenscreen for string quartet, live electronics, and video
Rafał Ryterski – The Essence of Things for quartet, actress, and multimedia

Sponsors: Narodowy Instytut Muzyki i Tańca, Województwo Pomorskie, Miasto Gdańsk, Miasto Wrocław