Ty i Ja. Magazyn, grafika, zjawisko / Magazine, Graphics, Phenomenon

Book accompanying the exhibition »Ty i Ja«. Lajfstajlowy magazyn z Peerelu (English: “Ty i Ja”. A Lifestyle Magazine from the People’s Republic of Poland at the Dom Spotkań z Historią (DHS), or History Meeting House, in Warsaw. It was designed by Kuba Maria Mazurkiewicz using Softcore and Pretty.

From the History Meeting House’s website (translated from the Polish):

In 1960, when the optimistic thaw of the post-Stalinist era was replaced by the modest and unexciting “small stabilization”, a true phenomenon appeared in Polish kiosks – the monthly magazine Ty i Ja (“You and I”). The title first caught the eye with its witty and sophisticated cover – a graphic variation on the theme of a couple. Upon opening, readers were surprised by the boldness and colors: full-page photographs, collages showcasing fashion straight from Paris, illustrations accompanying excerpts of new literary releases, and advertisements for products like cheese, boilers, household gloves, and erasers, all presented as highly desirable luxury items. When a reader finally settled on the sofa with the newly acquired issue – the entire print run sold out like hotcakes – they could learn about DNA helices, how to set up a modern kitchen, and how to make croque monsieur, “the crunchy mister.”

The exhibition “Ty i Ja”. A Lifestyle Magazine from the People’s Republic of Poland at the History Meeting House is the first comprehensive presentation of the phenomenon of a magazine that, despite the era’s austerity policies, showcased the lifestyle of Europe’s middle class. Displaying fashion and design, the magazine itself was a carefully designed object. The visual design was initially crafted by Roman Cieślewicz, later succeeded by Elżbieta and Bogdan Żochowski. Ty i Ja reproduced drawings by Picasso and Topor, reprinted works by Baldwin and Bulgakov, with fashion commentary by Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz and design insights by Oskar Hansen. It’s often said that the magazine was “a window to the West,” but it was also a product of a modernizing Poland after the thaw, where reminders about brushing teeth were still needed, and dishes like leczo were presented as gourmet cuisine.

The bilingual publication (Polish and English) was edited by Małgorzata Purzyńska, with translation by Krzysztof Ścibiorski, and published by Dom Spotkań z Historią. ISBN 978–83–66068–51–3