Cichy Czas / Quiet Time

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The connection between authoritarian regimes and the implementation of quiet time in kindergartens reveals a deeper story of control, conformity, and suppression of individuality.

The kindergarten, traditionally considered a haven for playful exploration and free expression, faces a paradox when subjected to the principles of authoritarian regimes. The quiet time often prescribed by such regimes serves as a tool to inculcate obedience and submission from an early age. Under the guise of fostering discipline and order, quiet time imposes a rigid structure that stifles creativity and suppresses children’s natural exuberance.

By systematizing its activities and suppressing noise, the regime seeks to produce obedient citizens who adhere unquestioningly to established norms.

The imposition of a regime of silence reflects the regime’s obsession with uniformity and homogeneity.

Thus, quiet time perpetuates a culture of sameness, erasing the vibrant fabric of human difference in favor of the monochromatic uniformity preferred by authoritarian regimes.

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SHKLATAR is a collective of artists that was founded in Warsaw and Berlin with the unifying goal of reinterpreting and examining changes in the lives of Eastern European communities through artistic practice.

Debuting in 2023 with a one-day self-organized exhibition “Piasok”, we aimed to explore and present our reflections and experiences regarding current social, cultural and political transformations. Shklatar finds its embodiment in the collaboration of artists who have united to create multidisciplinary projects.

Our collective consists of Alexander Adamau (1996), Andrey Anro (1987) and Vasilisa Palianina (1986)