"Music is the universal language of mankind."
— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Honoured and excited to share this live session for cellist and composer Jakub Dubik.
Art directing this project was the fulfillment of a long-held dream: to create at the intersection of two worlds I love: music and film. Looking back at the process, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to bridge these two mediums and for the creative trust that made this vision possible.
Upon first encountering the compositions of Jakub Dubik, I found myself captivated by the effortless grace with which his music evokes a state of cathartic stillness. He constructs expansive sonic architectures that beckon the mind toward a quiet wandering, yet remain disciplined and singular in their form. Each note feels intentional, a delicate vessel for emotions that are as profoundly intricate as they are essential.
In conceptualizing a location, it felt necessary to find a venue both spacious and light-filled. The Royal Sculpture Gallery (1786–1788) in Warsaw became the definitive cinematic choice. A compelling artistic statement in its own right, it stands as one of Poland's first modern museum concepts. Originally commissioned by King Stanisław August Poniatowski and designed by architect Domenico Merlini, it functioned as an intellectual sanctuary where the immersion in classical form and heritage served to refine the human mind.
Jakub Dubik's performance marks the first recorded live session in this venue's history. Five original compositions, each built in real time through electronics and live multi-tracking, unfold into a complex, symphonic soundscape from a single instrument.
The artistic direction behind the film was shaped by one clear intention: to move beyond illustrating the emotional atmosphere of the music, and instead reveal the nuances of Dubik's creative process itself. Working closely with the video team, the visual language was designed to follow each layer, each gesture, each transformation, tracing the physical and compositional act of building sound in real time. My aim was to capture not only the finished compositions, but the architecture of their becoming: a feat of musical engineering I find utterly fascinating.
As the light spilled through the windows, pouring over the cold air, the harmonies roared free through the empty marble halls. The sculptures seemed to stand as silent witnesses to the creation of something entirely new, which only intensified the feeling of the music and a moment of time held still.
music composed and performed by Jakub Dubik ∙ live session recorded on 25 February 2026
Credits:
Director — Filip Tomczak
Art Direction — Niela Lis
Cinematography — Filip Ziarko
Editing — dB Records
Colour Grading — Filip Ziarko
1st AC — Wojtek Wójcik
2nd AC — Adam Aleksandrowicz
2nd AC — Hubert Wodecki
Backstage Photo — Igor Rębiś
Makeup Artist — Agnieszka Lodoń
Sound Engineering — Mateusz Banasiuk, Mikołaj Grzebieniowski, Natalia Sikorska
Assistant Engineer — Wojciech Kuc
Production Company — dB Records, Harmider
Shot at the Royal Sculpture Gallery of Warsaw’s Royal Łazienki Park