Exhibitions

Monuments to Resistance is the largest and so far the most diverse presentation of the works of art about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in the post-war period (until 1956). The sculptures, monuments, posters, graphics, and photographs selected by the curators bring not only the multidimensionality of the subject and its enormous importance for entire generations but also the difficulties and emotions close to their creators.

The exhibition presents a wide selection of works of art, including some hitherto unknown, among others, large-format socialist realist oil paintings, anniversary poster designs from the years 1945-1948, as well as drawings, photographs, sculptures, and metalwork from the era. The works at the exhibition come mostly from the unique collections of the Jewish Historical Institute. Their selection was preceded by a detailed query conducted by curators. Among the artists whose works will be presented, there are for example Tadeusz Kulisiewicz, Natan Rapoport, Alina Szapocznikow, Henryk Hechtkopf, Tadeusz Gronowski, Ignacy Witz, and Bronisław Linke.

It is worth noting that almost no one who survived the Uprising and could illustrate their experiences. All the more valuable are the drawings by Halina Ołomucka from 1943, which open the exhibition. Their mood and the way they present the fighters, far from the usual emphasis on their heroism and courage, are extremely moving.

The choice made by the curators allows us to discover the subject from many perspectives: we see the works of artists working in Poland, as well as those who spent the time of the Holocaust abroad. Posters are an important part of the exhibition. During the post-war anniversary celebrations of the uprising, the Central Committee of Jews in Poland and the Jewish Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts organized two competitions for occasional posters.

Some of the submitted works have survived to this day in the collection of the Jewish Historical Institute. Among them, there are posters by Eryk Lipiński and Andrzej Wajda. The exhibition also presents a wide selection of characteristic socialist realist works. The exhibition will be accompanied by a program of events (meetings, guided tours, and film screenings) as well as a richly illustrated catalog presenting the results of queries carried out by the curators.

You can buy tickets here

JHI Director: Monika Krawczyk

Exhibition curators: Marta Kapełuś, Michał Krasicki, Piotr Słodkowski

Coordination of the exhibition: Marta Kapełuś, Michał Krasicki

Design project: Aneta Faner, Piotr Duma

Graphic design: bisoñ studio

Production of the exhibition design: Pracownia KONTRA Tomasz Marzec

English translation: Zofia Sochańska

Editing and proofreading: Jolanta Rudzińska (pol.), Natalia Kłopotek (eng.)

Conservation: Violetta Bachur

Acknowledgements:

Zuzanna Benesz-Goldfinger, Jakub Bendkowski, Franciszek Bojańczyk, Anna Ekielska, Aleksandra Galant, Maria Ferenc, Ewa Koźmińska-Frejlak, Anna Jaroszuk, Anna Opolska, Agnieszka Kajczyk, Tomasz Lec, Dariusz Lipowski, Natasza Majewska, Katarzyna Person, Renata Piątkowska, Agnieszka Reszka, Piotr Rypson, Noam Silberberg, Zbigniew Sochoń, Monika Taras, Magdalena Wójcik, Agnieszka Żółkiewska.

Acknowledgements for sharing works of art and photographs or their digital images:

Muzeum Narodowe w Warszawie, Muzeum Warszawy, Muzeum Niepodległości w Warszawie, Muzeum Zamoyskich w Kozłówce, Ghetto Fighters’ House, Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life at the University of California in Berkeley, Moreshet Mordechai Anielevich Memorial Holocaust Study and Research Center.

Organiser:

Media patrons:

Special thanks: