“A Year of Protests” – An outdoor exhibition of documentary photography during the Month of Photography.

Public Protests Archive / RATS Agency / Karol Grygoruk / Grzegorz Wełnicki / Agata Grzybowska / Agata Kubis / Michalina Kuczyńska / Rafał Milach / Joanna Musiał / Dawid Zieliński / Edka Jarząb

In 2020, women, the LGBTQ+ community, the Youth Climate Strike, the Black Lives Matter movement, entrepreneurs, trade unions, farmers, and Citizens of Poland protested. These demonstrations were unique not only in terms of their scale but also in the energy and the power of visual and linguistic communication.

Photographers stood at the forefront of these protests, often risking exposure to infection or aggression from the police, documenting events as they unfolded. Their photographs made it to the front pages of newspapers and were immediately shared on social media. They sparked debates, served as evidence of abuses by state officials, and motivated protesters to take to the streets again. They were particularly important for those who participated in the protests remotely.

On the internet, protest photos themselves become a form of protest, and sharing them becomes a statement. Photographs act like banners. They have viral potential, are commented on, shared, and turned into memes at an astonishing speed. The medium of photography is not transparent or objective; it has immense persuasive power. History unfolds before the eyes of photographers, but it is also shaped by them. In a world full of fake news and manipulation, honest documentary work becomes a tool in the activist fight for truth and social justice. Photos illustrating street performances are weapons in the battle of images and symbols, giving a voice to the least heard.

The first edition of the exhibition took place in January 2021 in Warsaw, coinciding with the Women’s Strikes following the official announcement of the Constitutional Tribunal’s ruling. The photographs displayed in the city were ephemeral “monuments” to these events. The exhibition was organized by the Promocyjna Gallery and the Staromiejski Dom Kultury in Warsaw. It was accompanied by the release of the second Women’s Strike newspaper and the “Postcards from the Protest” campaign. Edka Jarząb, a performer, poet, and DJ, was also invited to participate in the exhibition and composed a piece using sounds recorded during the protests.

Curators: Kaja Werbanowska, Michalina Sablik
Collaboration: Promocyjna Gallery, Staromiejski Dom Kultury in Warsaw