Photographer retraces 2,000km journey through former Soviet landscape
Michal Iwanowski’s exhibition Clear of People retraces a journey, originally made in 1945 by the artist’s grandfather and uncle, through a politically charged and precarious landscape.
His grandfather Tolek, and great uncle Wiktor, escaped from Soviet captivity and crossed over 2000 kilometres on their fugitive journey home to Poland in 1945.
The 2,200 km fugitive odyssey began in Kaluga, Russia, where the two brothers had spent a year in a prisoner-of-war camp.
Their daring escape was followed by a three month trek.
Struggling against constant cold, hunger and exhaustion, they moved under the cover of the night, avoiding any contact with people
Driven by their longing to return home, and having escaped death on numerous occasions, they eventually made it to Wroclaw, Poland, where they were reunited with their family.
70 years later, Michal Iwanowski returned to Russia with a map and notes inherited from his uncle.
He embarked on a similar journey, faithfully retracing every step, with a camera as his sole comrade.
And just like Tolek and Wiktor had, he steered clear of people along the way.
In his project he reveals a landscape crowded with ghosts, on their fugitive way home.
Michal Iwanowski is a Polish born, Cardiff based artist. Iwanowski studied Documentary Photography at the University of Wales, Newport, graduating in 2008
His work explores the relationship between landscape and memory; marking the silent passing of otherwise insignificant individuals and histories. In 2009, he won the Emerging Photographers award by Magenta Foundation, as well as being given a Honourable Mention at Px3 Prix De Photographie, Paris.
Michal Iwanowski will launch his photobook Clear of People at the opening of the exhibition. The book was designed by Tom Mrazauskas, and published by Brave Books.
Photographs by Michal Iwanowski from his exhibition and photobook "Clear of People".
Photographs by Michal Iwanowski from his exhibition and photobook "Clear of People".
Photographs by Michal Iwanowski from his exhibition and photobook "Clear of People".
Photographs by Michal Iwanowski from his exhibition and photobook "Clear of People".
All photographs by Michal Iwanowski from his exhibition and photobook "Clear of People". The exhibition opens to the public at the Tara Building, Tara Street on Friday may 5th as part of the month long PhotoIreland Festival - for full programme see - http://festival.photoireland.org/year-2017/
