It’s Going to Be Fine, We Just Need to Change Everything
The Archive of Public Protests, Chris Niedenthal

The exhibition is about resistance to an authoritarian state. It was opened on the anniversary of the introduction of martial law in the territory of the Polish People’s Republic. It presents photos by Chris Niedenthal from years 1981–1983 and photos of the Archives of Public Protests, an open platform for the distribution of photos related to socio-political tensions in Poland from 2016 to today. The exhibition has been supplemented with records of the latest anti-war demonstrations related to the crisis in Ukraine.

Opening: 13/12/2021 (Monday), 6:00 p.m., free entry
Where: Galeria Labirynt, ul. Popiełuszki 5
Accessibility: The exhibition is held on the ground floor. In the bookshop you can borrow a wheelchair and earmuffs for free during your stay in the gallery. The gallery has 6 portable induction loops.
Exhibition on display until: 10/04/2022 (Tue–Sun, 12:00 –7:00 p.m.), entrance: PLN 1
Quiet hours: Wednesdays at 3:00–7:00 p.m. – a sensory-friendly period of time dedicated for people who are sensitive to some stimuli. During this time exhibitions sounds and flashing lights are turned off.

13/12/2021, 6:30 p.m. – meeting with participants of the exhibition led by Sylwia Hejno, interpreted into the Polish sign language (PJM) by Ewelina Lachowska and Marta Stępniak

Chris Niedenthal has been creating reportages about Poland and whole Eastern and Central Europe since 1970s. He has worked with American Newsweek, Time Magazine, and Die Spiegel. He witnessed the birth of “Solidarity” movement, imposition of martial law and the fall of communism in Poland.

The Archive of Public Protests has been operating since 2019, but photos of protests have been collected since 2016. The documentary nature of the collection is a footprint of social activity, grassroot initiatives expressing opposition to political decisions, violations democratic principles and human rights. The photos of APP are a warning of increasing populism, xenophobia and discrimination of any form.

APP is being created by Michał Adamski, Marta Bogdańska, Karolina Gembara, Łukasz Głowala, Marcin Kruk, Agata Kubis, Michalina Kuczyńska, Adam Lach, Alicja Lesiak, Rafał Milach, Joanna Musiał, Chris Niedenthal, Wojtek Radwański, Bartek Sadowski, Karolina Sobel, Paweł Starzec, Grzegorz Wełnicki and Dawid Zieliński.

Strajk kobiet

Photo credit:
APP, WOMEN’S STRIKE, Alicja Lesiak
Just before imposition of martial law, Warsaw © Chris Niedenthal 1981