“Bonds” is a historical and social project aimed at creating artistic realizations that make a dialogue with memory / history. The main subject of interest in this case is the nearly 400-year history of Polish relations with Siberia. The history of Poles’ exiles to Siberia dates back to the early 16th century. Deportations were a frequent method of fighting against political opponents of tsarist Russia, some Poles came to Siberia of own accord, as part of the colonization of Siberia carried out by the tsarist authorities (this applies, for example, to the inhabitants of Wierszyna, often called Little Poland). After 1939, the deportations of Poles to Siberia were one of the basic instruments of the occupation policy of the Soviet authorities. In “Bonds” have been put together materials of archival value – collectively produced images (newsreels, films), amateur photographs, with creations created today. The participants of the project were both Sybiracy – people who came to Siberia and who managed to return to Poland, as well as  representatives of the Polish  diaspora – people of Polish origin currently living in Russia. The project involved creative work on memory, aimed at bringing closer  fates of Polish families who came to Siberia of own accord or forcibly. The project analyzes their relationship with Polishness and a sense of national identity in the context of historical events and the multinational essence of Siberia.

Zrealizowano w ramach programu stypendialnego Ministra Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego.

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