The first of two curatorial tours of the outdoor exhibition, located at Grzybowski Square, took place on August 24th. They were led by exhibition curator Rafał Kosewski from the MGW Exhibitions Department and Dr. Jacek Konik, who collaborates with our institution.
August 24 2020
The curatorial tour was part of the events associated with the 17th "Singer's Warsaw" Festival, organized by the Shalom Foundation. The exhibition, which has been on display at Grzybowski Square since July 20, opened online on April 15. It consists of over 70 archival photographs on 20 panels, accompanied by historical commentary, depicting everyday life in the Warsaw Ghetto. The reproductions on display come from the collections of leading institutions specializing in Holocaust research. Although the vast majority of these photographs were created for propaganda purposes, they also document the misery of the ghetto.
Curator Rafał Kosewski focused on the relationship between the photographs and the phenomena they document, while Dr. Jacek Konik presented a compelling historical context. He emphasized, among other things, that without the heroic participation of women in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, its course would have been much shorter. He also emphasized that when analyzing the subsequent stages of the ghetto's existence, we should always remember the feelings of the people imprisoned there. They lacked the historical knowledge we possess today.
In addition to scenes from everyday life in the ghetto, the exhibition "Every Third Among Us" presents key historical events, such as the so-called Grossaktion and the uprising of 1943. Various examples of social and economic life are also discussed, from the organization of house committees and charitable institutions to smuggling, a significant element of the ghetto economy.
Anna Kilian
Photo: Maja Nowak
