It has been four years since your talk at TEDxKraków. What have you been working on?
I just finished working on the film “Paradise on Earth”. It’s the story of Arthur and Iwona, a homeless couple I met two years ago, when I stepped into an abandoned house on my street. I never would have thought that this meeting would turn into a new art project.
To create the project “6 rivers”, I chose to kayak on all the rivers of Krakow. I don’t know if someone has ever done it before … and mind you, there are no queues there, like on Mount Everest… (smiles)
From discussions with my guide, ornithologist Kazimierz Walasz I learned that city rivers, even the smallest ones, are wildlife sanctuaries. I discovered that waterways are rich ecosystems and that they are full of life. Rivers are the lifeblood of our town. Krakowód – a map of local rivers shows a completely new perspective of the city. As a result, we discover that nature in Krakow is actually at our fingertips.

We also had to once more put on the butterfly wings, in order to protect Zakrzówek.
When working on new projects, I discovered that I am not alone. Water Critical Mass was established and I feel that I have friends.
Then there was also “Białka’s Braids” – a protest against the regulation of river Białka. It is not in Krakow, but it has been present in my life since childhood. The idea of weaving braids came to me when I was doing my daughter’s hair.

What is your next project?
The project “Let’s protect the Riparian Forest” is already underway. Trees in the Vistula river floodplain in Przegorzały have been labeled by authority. We have a bad feeling about what’s coming, but we will not let them be cut down. Together with students of Art Education and our collective Water Critical Mass, we are preparing to take action in order to save trees from being cut down and to prevent the construction of a parking lot at Plac Inwalidow. It’s called “Threads of the parking lot” which is a Polish idiom and means that nothing will come of it.

And what is Cecylia Malik’s dream?
Of course, after every new project I dream to spend more time with my family. I would love to spend time kayaking with my husband and create a series of new beautiful paintings.

Thank you very much for your time and the interview and I already invite you to our next edition of TEDxKraków, on 13 June 2015 r.!

The interview was conducted by Katarzyna Mroczek. Watch Cecylia’s 2011 Talk below: