It is the third temporary exhibition organised by the Sybir Memorial Museum and the first to have an international dimension. The exhibition presents four different perspectives on experiences related to the Second World War, expressed through the language of contemporary art. Artists from Finland, Germany, France and Northern Ireland participated in the project: Juhana Moisander, Rebekka Bauer, Raphaël Dallaporta and Gail Ritchie.
Among those attending the exhibition opening were: Katarzyna Jamróz, Chairwoman of the Białystok City Council; Danuta Anna Pieciul, Head of the Culture Unit at the Department of Culture, Promotion and Sport of the Białystok City Office; Joanna Roman, Project Manager at the LRE Foundation; Isabelle Benoit, curator of the Art of Remembrance exhibition; Juhana Moisander, Finnish artist; Katarzyna Wiktorko, the actress featured in Moisander’s artwork; Anna Kołosow, teacher at the VII General Secondary School in Białystok; and members of the Sybirak community, represented by Jolanta Hryniewicka.
Prof. Wojciech Śleszyński, Director of the Sybir Memorial Museum, noted that this was not the first initiative undertaken by the Museum in which contemporary art engages with the history of World War II.
“We have already undertaken projects that involved Sybiraks working together with artists. Today, however, we are taking a step further by inviting international guests to collaborate with us. Art of Remembrance is the first international exhibition to open at the Sybir Memorial Museum,” he emphasised.
Isabelle Benoit, curator of Art of Remembrance, introduced visitors to the idea behind the project and expressed her pride that, following its presentations in the Netherlands and Italy, the exhibition could now be shown in Poland.
“Our sincere thanks go to the artists who created these works and demonstrated that historical memory and remembrance of the events of the Second World War can extend beyond traditional forms and inspire us to view these subjects from a new perspective,” added Joanna Roman from the LRE Foundation.
Jolanta Hryniewicka also expressed her gratitude to the creators of the exhibition:
“Sybiraks are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to the creation of this exhibition. I believe it will speak directly to us, because remembrance is what matters most and must continue to be nurtured.”
Visitors attending the opening had the opportunity to take part in the first curator-led tour. Piotr Popławski, PhD, coordinator of the Art of Remembrance project, outlined the historical context and spoke about the artists’ inspirations as well as their creative journeys. Juhana Moisander reflected on the experiences and emotions that inspired him to create his work Mother. Serving as the heart of the exhibition, the piece directly references the history of Sybiraks. The figure of a mother and child inside a freight wagon forms a moving audiovisual installation that engages multiple senses.
“My works have neither a beginning nor an end. They are loops in which I try to place as much meaning and emotion as possible. I decided to use a song that would strengthen the impact of this simple scene. I spent a long time searching for the right melody until I came across Iskierka, a Polish lullaby from the 1920s. Its melody is filled with sadness and melancholy, making it a perfect fit for this scene,” Juhana Moisander explained.
War is not a single story told in a single language. History is made up of many voices, memories and emotions. The works presented in our exhibition reflect this diversity and the multitude of perspectives represented by the participating artists.
The temporary exhibition Art of Remembrance can be visited free of charge until 30 June 2026.
The Art of Remembrance project has been co-funded by the European Union. For more information about the project, visit: www.art-of-remembrance.eu.
