“You could see the Irtysh River, with barges floating along it. From time to time, a beautiful white boat would pass by. As a child, I would watch for that boat and follow it with my eyes. And I would think to myself: some people are traveling for some purpose, and they are certainly not hungry. Every thought was: they are not hungry, they are going somewhere.”

Krystyna Mateuszuk (née Świrniak), from the collection of the Sybir Memorial Museum.

These and other personal recollections of Sybiraks were shared aloud during the final guided curatorial tour. Their powerful testimonies served as a source of inspiration for the artists featured in the exhibition.

Following the tour, visitors took part in a participatory art performance titled “The Earth Has Not Forgotten Spring”, created by Aleksandra Jakuć, whose work was also part of the exhibition. Participants were invited to press paint-covered plants onto a specially prepared surface, creating a symbolic meadow of memory.

“I wanted to leave you with the thought that after winter, spring always comes. Likewise, after traumatic experiences – hope can always return. The plants we are working with are not random species – they grow both in Siberia and in Podlasie. They connect these two worlds and symbolize continuity, the strength of nature that can survive even in the harshest conditions,” said the artist.

The exhibition “Boundlessness in Sybir”, on display from December 2024 through June 2025, welcomed over 10,000 visitors. It was accompanied by a rich program of events for children, youth, and adults.

We are proud that the story of Siberian deportations, told through a new and artistic lens, reached such a wide audience — inspiring reflection, sparking conversation, and helping preserve the legacy of the Sybiraks for future generations.