'Protest' an exhibition featuring the work of six contemporary Polish photographers:

Maciej Dakowicz – Jerzy Bucki
Swiatoslaw Wojtkowiak - Marek Locher
Rafal Bielawa – Radoslaw Komenda

This exhibition commemorates the 40th Anniversary of the student protests in Paris in 1968.

'Protest’ is the second Charnwood Arts Pixel and Grain Gallery photographic exhibition at Charnwood Museum in Loughborough. The exhibition showcases the work of six contemporary Polish photographers who have all responded in their own ways to the theme of ‘protest’ to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the student unrest in Paris in 1968. Each artist has interpreted the theme in their own unique way - some through the documentation of protest in a very literal way, others through providing a series of images which take the theme into more personal areas of expression.

Jerzy Bucki has chosen to reference the position of children in relation to the circumstances of the adult world which surround them. Swiatoslaw Wojtkowiak has adopted a more literal photojournalistic approach which reflects his travels and work in areas of the world where different forms of protest have become part of the fabric of modern life. In contrast Rafal Bielawa has chosen a more personalised view which depicts individual attitudes and responses related to connecting to or placing barriers between self and the world. Cardiff based Radoslaw Komenda challenges the conventional in photographic composition and the mundane tramlines and defining actions of modern existence. Marek Locher’s work is a protest in itself against the destruction of the industrial infrastructure of Silesia. The work of Maciej Dakowicz depicts the living conditions and issues affecting people in areas of the world where serious health issues and poverty are endemic.

The idea for this exhibition stems from two relationships. Firstly, the international relationships which have developed between photographers on web based creative communities such as pbase, TrekEarth and flickr. Such sites have allowed the unprecedented dissemination of photographic works world-wide and have brought the work of professionals and dedicated amateurs alike under the critical eye and critique of their peers. Most of the six contributing artists are committed members of one or more of these sites. The second relationship is that of Charnwood Arts with Loughborough University whose own Radar programme suggested the theme of ‘Protest’ for the exhibition to tie in with live presentations, workshops and processional work as part of the Charnwood ‘Heart of Three Cities’ Festival.

Charnwood, in the UK East Midlands, has its own strong links with Poland - the main town of Loughborough has a long and productive twinning arrangement with the town of Zamosc in Eastern Poland. Many Poles settled in Charnwood after the war and their community has become an integral part of the ever growing diversity of the population of the borough. In the last two years the Polish population of the borough has risen significantly with the arrival of many migrant workers.

Charnwood Arts is keen to see further progression from this exhibition to initiate a community arts project with the Polish community in the borough and already these discussions have begun.

Kevin Ryan
Director – Charnwood Arts