Joanna Wyrwa, daughter of Emilia, granddaughter of Zofia and Zenona. Educator, multimedia creator, researcher, and urban activist. Driven by a passion for creating culturally sensitive and socially just spaces, she aims to ensure urban environments meet the diverse needs of communities, particularly individuals with special needs, with attention to gender and power studies. Sha has been working with sound for several years, initially as a media art student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław. Currently, from a scientific approach she is developing a socio-economic diversity index based on the city’s soundscape and its computational analysis as a PhD student at Wroclaw University of Life and Environmental Sciences in the discipline of socio-economic geography and spatial management.
She brings over 15 years of experience in leading non-governmental organizations, including serving as the president of the Socially Active Association "Trampolina" (focused on street work and revitalization) and the Pejzaż Foundation (emphasizing the sensory experience of place and geo-demographic research, se: http://pejzaz.com). Her work spans in revitalizing the Nadodrze district in Wrocław and designing inclusive educational and cultural programs that foster a sense of place within Wrocław and Lower Silesia.
Her scientific pursuits are enriched by a passion for creating experimental documentary films and sound recordings that blend research, activism, and education, allowing her to tell stories and explore social dynamics within documented spaces. Her work in this field has been recognized internationally, with participation in residencies such as the Citizen Artist Incubator in Linz, Herdocs in Warsaw, the Runde Olfactory Workshop, and CAFX in Tirana. Member of Smell Studies Brown University and Association of Critical Education. Member of Soundception Project.
She has been honored with scholarships from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage as well as from the Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.
As a mother of two sons, Jan and Tymon, she explores the sensory experiences of everyday life with them, with love to others, earth and dreams.
A door can be opened with force in an instant, then slammed shut again. Existential opening, however, requires time and gradual maturation; it is a growing process. (Brach-Czaina)