O sposobach obchodzenia się z reliktami przeszłości

This article aims to reflect on the meaning attributed to objects from the past in the contemporary transformations of memory. As the direct access to the past is not possible, objects are seen not only a link with the past, but they also acquire new references and meanings. In particular, the author is interested in two phenomena: on the one hand in an increasing interest in objects coming from the past with little or no artistic value and on the other hand in the tendency to transform some objects into symbols and consider them a kind of “lieux de mémoire”. The author examined thoroughly ways of inscribing those objects into the memory frame showing the cultural background of the phenomena. He also tried to answer a question whether we can really place our hopes in such objects and view them as reliable links with the past.