The exhibition “I in the Forest” was available from December to February at the BWA Warsaw Gallery, and then until mid-March at the Krupa Art Foundation in Wrocław, to draw attention to the ongoing migration crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border and the destiny of refugees – people looking for a way to a better life. She besides contributed to financial support of activists of the Podlaskie Volunteer Humanitarian Aid Assistance helping refugees on the border with the sum of PLN 100 thousand.
The exhibition itself “And in the forest” was viewed by c. 3,700 peopleand related openings participated Over 500 participants and participants. The exhibition curated by Justyna Kowalska and Artur Nowak-Gocławski presented works created under the influence of current events, but besides works concerning people on the way from a fewer or respective years ago.
The exhibition saw works Rafała Bujnowski, Monika Chlebek, Poli Dwurnik, Bartłomiej Flis, Karolina Freino, Karolina Jabłońska, Agnieszka Kalinowska, Adam Kozicki, Katerina Lisovenko, Róży Lithuania, Krzysztof Maniak, Gizeli Mickiewicz, Witka Orski, Alec Polis, Katarzyna Przewańska, Joanna Rajkowski, Filip Rybkowski, Szymon Ruczyński, Jadwiga Sawicka, Wilhelm Sasnala, Alex Urban, Rafał Wilk, Michał Zawada and Piotr Czabań document.
– In the context of the humanitarian crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border, I was affected by the fact that besides fewer people know about him that volunteers, activists are sometimes left to themselves. I thought it was an exhibition based on the work of artistic people who have seen issues of emigration, migration for many years, that we will decision the imagination, the sensitivity of those who will see this exhibition. And that, in our opinion, worked –
This is Justyna Kowalski.
The openings of the exhibition in Warsaw and Wrocław were besides an chance to organise social debates on migration, which was attended by representatives of the Podlaskie Volunteer Humanitarian Aid, as well as the technological community – experts and researchers of migration and culture.
– We would like to thank all artists for your sensitivity and extraordinary commitment to the efforts they have made to rise awareness of the exile crisis. Thanks to the works of artists, each visitor to the exhibition could enter this hard world, and thanks to the works he could better realize and feel what the dramatic situation on the Polish-Belarusian border is, but besides on many another borders, where human dramas are taking place.
– says Katarzyna Młyńczak-Sachs.
During the exhibition there was besides an action of financial support for volunteers of the Podlaskie Voluntary Humanitarian Aid. The Aid in Podlasie, which is run by the Irresponsible Foundation, received precisely PLN 66,050 from the beginning of the first exhibition until the end of March. These were contributions from artists for the transfer of part or all of the fee for the sale of works and payments from private persons affected by the situation at the border. The ANG SA Group, the exhibition partner, decided on additional co-financing of POPH activities and for support at the border was transferred by the Foundation Irresponsible full amount of PLN 100,000. The funds are already in the account of the POPH Association.
– I'm very arrogant of this exhibition. We cared about Justyna Kowalska, to decision people's hearts through art, to interest them in what is happening on the Polish-Belarusian border, on which people encounter suffering, fear of death. This is not how it should be. I think that we have done something crucial with artistic people, galleries and exhibition partners. Thank you so much for all of this. I peculiarly thank BWA Warszawa, Justyna Kowalski for the thought of getting active in this way, for the fact that we could jointly encourage people to be indifferent. I besides thank Kasi Młyńczak Sachs for his enthusiastic approach to the continuation of the exhibition in Wrocław at Krupa Art Foundation. We all wanted the consequence of the exhibition to be financial support for those who aid at the border. Sharing by artists the fees for the works sold, resignations from the fees by galleries and contributions of people and companies afraid is wonderful.
– says Artur Nowak-Gocławski.
Curators: Justyna Kowalska and Artur Nowak-Gocławski
Organizers: BWA Warszawa & Foundation Irresponsible
Co-organizer: Krupa Art Foundation
Partner: ANG SA Group, Wineonline
Exhibition at BWA Warsaw: 8.12.2023 – 10.02.2024
Exhibition at the Krupa Art Foundation Wrocław: 16.02.2024 – 17.03.2024
Thanks to the artistic people and gallery of the Brave Foundation, Foksal Gallery Foundation, Krupa Gallery, Leto, Lok_30, Monopol, Raster, Stereo, Wanda, Warsaw Cultural Observatory.
