Paweł Kalinowski's 'Contact Layer of Shinjuku': Seven Porsches' 4,000-km Journey Transformed into Film and Art
Paweł Kalinowski, a designer from Poland, has launched 'Contact Layer of Shinjuku,' an interdisciplinary art initiative inspired by a fictional race set in 1980s Tokyo. In 2026, he brought back a hand-painted 1968 Porsche 911 to Japan, where it gained fame as a hero car at Luftgekühlt Tokyo. The project further developed into 'Ghost Layer of Shinjuku,' which considers a deteriorating Porsche 356 as an archaeological artifact. During the summer of 2026, seven vintage Porsches journeyed 4,000 kilometers through Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania, capturing roadside repairs and interactions. This expedition will lead to a seven-part documentary series and a physical exhibit, debuting at Luftgekühlt in Atlanta in October 2026, followed by showings at Reszel Castle in Poland and Tokyo.
Key facts
- Paweł Kalinowski created 'Contact Layer of Shinjuku' from a fictional race in 1980s Tokyo.
- Seven classic Porsches (1955-1992) traveled 4,000 km each through Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania in summer 2026.
- Twelve participants from different generations joined the journey without support vehicles or a predetermined script.
- The journey was documented through photography and film, accumulating objects, sounds, and memories.
- The project is developing into a seven-part documentary series and a physical installation.
- First presentation planned for Luftgekühlt in Atlanta in October 2026.
- Complete work will premiere at Reszel Castle in Poland, with a future presentation in Tokyo.
- Previous chapters include 'Shinjuku' (1968 Porsche 911) and 'Ghost Layer of Shinjuku' (Porsche 356).
Entities
Artists
- Paweł Kalinowski
Institutions
- Luftgekühlt
- Reszel Castle
- CarBone
Locations
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Mount Fuji
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Hungary
- Romania
- Tokaj
- Transfăgărășan
- Atlanta
- Łódź