What are the residents of Trenčín worried about? What are they hoping for? What has shaped them, and what kind of future do they want for their city? The answers to these questions will be revealed in a large-scale video installation entitled ‘The Town Tower Tells Its Story’, created by the world-renowned Polish-American artist Krzysztof Wodiczko for the Trenčín 2026 European Capital of Culture programme. This new site-specific work will transform the historic Town Tower into the voice of the city and its residents.
The Town Tower as the voice of the town
Over four evenings in August, the Town Tower will become a place where public space intersects with personal stories. In a large-scale video projection by Krzysztof Wodiczko, authentic testimonies from people living in Trenčín will be heard – about their fears, their hopes, what has shaped their lives, and what future they wish for their city. Their faces, voices and emotions will form part of a monumental projection on one of the most striking landmarks of the historic centre.
The video features the voices of people who represent the diverse facets of modern-day Trenčín – young people and older residents, volunteers, artists and students; a man who found a new home in Trenčín after fleeing the war in Ukraine; a woman who brings people together across generations through community embroidery; and volunteers working with Roma children. Each of them offers their own perspective on life in the city, but together they provide a powerful testimony to its history, values, fears and hopes.
“We wanted to create a work in which Trenčín itself speaks – through the people who live here, work here, help others, or have brought their life stories here. Each of them represents a different experience, but it is only together that they paint a picture of the city, which is shaped by its inhabitants,” reveals Alexander Topilin, an architect from Trenčín, who is working closely with Krzysztof Wodiczko on this project.
This new work was created specifically for Trenčín as part of the Trenčín 2026 European Capital of Culture programme. In it, Wodiczko builds on his long-standing artistic practice, which transforms architecture into a space for civic dialogue and gives a voice to those whose stories often go unheard. At the same time, the project encourages viewers not only to look at the artwork, but to become part of a collective reflection on the city and its future.
The video projection will take place at the Town Tower from 17 to 20 August, starting at 8.30 pm each evening, and will be open to the general public free of charge. Visitors will experience a unique blend of contemporary art, architecture and authentic human stories right in the historic centre of Trenčín. More information here: https://www.trencin2026.eu/en/podujatie/krzysztof-wodiczko-pl-us-the-city-tower-speaks/
A world-renowned artist in Trenčín
Krzysztof Wodiczko (Poland/USA) is one of the world’s leading artists working in public spaces. His monumental video projections have been displayed on prominent public buildings across Europe, North America and Asia. He has long explored themes such as human rights, war, migration, memory and social responsibility. In his work, he uses architecture as a medium for social dialogue and brings to the public space the voices of people who often go unheard. In Trenčín, he has created a new work that responds directly to the local community and its stories.
The ‘The Town Tower Tells Its Story’ project forms part of the Trenčín 2026 – European Capital of Culture programme and is thematically linked to the programme’s values – curiosity, openness, dialogue and the active involvement of residents in the town’s cultural life.
The Trenčín 2026 project is funded by the City of Trenčín, the Trenčín Self-Governing Region and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. The European Union is a partner in the project.
Media Contacts:
Kateřina Svobodová, ANTENNA Media, k.svobodova@antennamedia.cz, tel. +420 724 329 414
Tereza Fojtová, PR manager, tereza.fojtova@trencin2026.eu, tel. + 421 918 412 621
