This long-awaited event was attended by numerous guests, including: Tomasz Kobzdej, PhD, Ambassador of Poland to Moldova; Katarzyna Jamróz, Chairwoman of Białystok City Council; Professor Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, Rector of Białystok University of Technology; as well as the artists and witnesses to history – Sybiraks – with Jolanta Hryniewicka, Head of the Białystok Branch of the Association of Siberian Deportees in the lead, and Jerzy Bołtuć, Chairman of the Podlasie Association of Memory of Siberian Exiles.

Professor Wojciech Śleszyński, Director of the Sybir Memorial Museum, welcomed the guests with the following words:

“We present you the second temporary exhibition prepared by the Sybir Memorial Museum, entitled ‘Boundlessness in Sybir.’ This is a unique project that transcends the borders of historical museology, invites deep reflection on the experience of Siberian deportations through the lens of contemporary art. Museum, being a place open to dialogue is constantly in search for new ways to bring history to life and to build bridges between the past and the present.”

Thanks to the collaboration between the Sybir Memorial Museum and the artists from the Institute of Art at the Faculty of Architecture, Białystok University of Technology, a project that combines art, history, and the testimonies of the Sybiraks was created.

Ewelina Kamieńska, substantive curator of the exhibition, told the guests about the idea behind the creation of the exhibition:

“The idea behind the exhibition ‘Boundlessness in Sybir’ is to reflect on the limits of human experience and the boundlessness of suffering. This refers to the limits within each of us – physical, material, and those tied to our values. We posed ourselves the question about boundaries with regard to Sybiraks, contemplating what they had to face while being deported. When we speak of boundaries, the concept of boundlessness naturally arises. How endless their hope must have been to believe in a return to Poland and survival,” she said.

Kamil Kopania, PhD, art curator, spoke about the creation of the exhibition and collaboration with the artists:

“In preparing this exhibition, we aimed to show history alive. We collaborated with the artists who created works that evoke emotions, giving modern audiences the opportunity to engage with the experiences of Sybiraks. We invited artists from the region who ‘feel this history’ and pay homage to our history. The artists entered into dialogue with the most important participants – Sybiraks. There were several poignant conversations about Siberia – what was it and what the artists’ intentions are. The artists, who want to speak about Sybir through the language of art. We managed to create a platform for communication between people with totally different experiences, from completely different generations. Thanks to these works, history became something one can experience,” he emphasized.

Jolanta Hryniewicka, President of the Białystok Branch of the Association of Siberian Deportees, also spoke to the audience about the collaboration between the Sybiraks and the artists:

“Sharing our memories and experiences is incredibly challenging. How can we convey it, so someone who wasn’t there can understand it, enter our souls, and feel our emotions? We tried to talk about our memories. I hope the creators appreciated our efforts, and the exhibition will make an impression and arouse interest, because that is mainly what this is about, also among the younger generation,” she concluded.

The participants of the opening ceremony, after seeing the artists’ works, had the opportunity to participate in a performance by Professor Janusz Bałdyga from the University of Fine Arts in Poznań.

The authors of the works:

Anna Ciżewska – Czarnecka
Andrzej Dworakowski
Jan Godlewski
Aleksandra Jakuć
Tatiana Misijuk
Jarosław Perszko
Waldemar Regucki
Justyna Sołomianko
Katarzyna Zabłocka

Witnesses of History:

Teresa Borowska
Tadeusz Borowski – Beszta
Wanda Kościuczuk
Jolanta Hryniewicka
Zenon Puchalski
Janina Rutkowska
Barbara Sokólska
Stanisława Tankiewicz

Thank you all for such a large number of arrivals!
The temporary exhibition ‘Boundlessness in Sybir’ is open until June 29th, 2025.
We invite you to a curator-guided tour of the exhibition, which will take place on December 8th, 2024, at 12.00.