On September 20, 2025, at 8:00 PM, the space of the former Gdańsk Shipyard in the WL4 Mleczny Piotr building will become the stage for a unique artistic event – "The Essence of Things."
This project, organized by the NeoArte Association, blends contemporary music, video art, and performance within an extraordinary industrial setting.
The program will feature the world premieres of two compositions commissioned especially for the occasion: The Essence of Things by Rafał Ryterski and Greenscreen by Agata Zemla.
The evening will also include the Polish premiere of Valencia by Caroline Shaw, an American composer and Pulitzer Prize winner.
All works will be performed by the NeoQuartet – a Tricity-based string quartet specializing in contemporary music, known for their bold, interdisciplinary projects – together with the composers themselves. The project also features acclaimed actress Anna Kociarz.
"The Essence of Things" is more than a concert – it is an artistic manifesto and an attempt to redefine what a cultural event can be: stepping into public space and engaging the audience in a creative process.
This multimedia event – incorporating electronics, synthesizers, multichannel sound, and visuals – poses questions about the role of art in today’s world and its impact on personal and societal development.
The project is a tribute to socially engaged art, addressing themes of identity, ecology, social tension, and cultural transformation.
The industrial interiors of WL4 are not just a backdrop – they become an integral part of the artistic message.
Patrons of the event: National Institute of Music and Dance, Pomeranian Voivodeship, City of Gdańsk.
Partners: WL4 Mleczny Piotr, Stocznia Cesarska.
Press release
Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC
Tickets: https://www.kupbilecik.pl/imprezy/175700/Gda%C5%84sk/Istota+Rzeczy/
