Campus life [2025-10-20]

Kotłownia full of colours

— Editors

Dynamic plant elements and vivid colours – these are the leading motifs of the painting that decoratedervice the interior of the 'Kotłownia' Student Activity Centre. This is another project carried out as part of the activities of the YUFE Mural Design Help Desk.

The painting arrangement of the 'Kotłownia' Centre space was carried out by students of painting at the Wall Painting Studio of the NCU Faculty of Fine Arts. The author of the project, which was created as part of the activities of the YUFE Mural Design Help Desk, is fourth-year student Agata Tarkowska. In addition to her, Natalia Kwiatkowska, Paulina Krajewska, Weronika Kowalczyk, Maja Baszczyńska, Matylda Mech, Małgorzata Szymańska and guest artists Katarzyna Masalskaya and Hubert Wiśniewski under the supervision of drl habi. Iwona Szpak-Pawłowska, NCU Prof.

The project, which included preparing two versions and making corrections, took approximately three months to complete. Work on the murals began on 6 October with a sketch of the entire composition on the lower and upper parts of the walls. The following days were devoted to creating the colour composition, and on 10 October, the work was completed, the scaffolding dismantled and the room cleaned.

The idea was for the painting to radiate vivid colours, creating a harmonious landscape composition, explains dr habil. Iwona Szpak-Pawłowska, NCU Prof. who supervises the YUFE Mural Design Help Desk and the project at the 'Kotłownia' Centre. 'The dynamic plant elements, leaves and flowers have been stylised in the spirit of flat colour patches, suggesting movement and energy.'

Architectural details such as balustrades and stairs also harmonise with the mural, creating a modern, multi-layered interior that encourages exploration and interaction. 'Murals, through their multi-layered and multi-coloured nature, indicate a significant transformation of the “Kotłownia" space, giving it an artistic and inspiring character, becoming an important, creative and reflective element for the audience,' adds dr habil. Iwona Szpak-Pawłowska, NCU Prof.

As a reminder, this is not the first mural to decorate the 'Kotłownia'. Since July 2024, the building's façade has featured a large-format work depicting everyday student activities: learning, socialising and having fun together. Currently, students at the Mural Design Help Desk have begun work on designs for the NCU Faculty of Law and Administration in Toruń and the Faculty of Pharmacy at the NCU Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz.

The Mural Design Help Desk is part of the NCU Student Help Desks network and operates within the YUFE initiative, strengthening the university's ties with the local community. The help desk is run by the Faculty of Fine Arts and offers advice on the design and execution of murals on façades and architectural elements. Students receive free advice and, under the supervision of a coordinator, design wall paintings for specific commissions.

More about NCU's social commitment within YUFE