The exhibition tells a story about women’s lives in Poland in the 1980s. This decade began with an economic and socio-political crisis, and ended with the political system transition. This unpeaceful period, until now, was mostly described from a man’s perspective – the main force behind political changes. Meanwhile, women’s social life experiences are testimonies to intersections between great history and private everyday life, and their influence on the state of the country after 1989 is undeniable.
As the curators (all female) highlight: ‘Everyday life, creative work and political events formed a dynamic flow, in which women sought to make decisions and influence the stream of occurrences, both in personal and public spheres. A shared experience of despondency and resistance to the deteriorating living conditions at the start of the decade gave way to demands for systemic change and joy at the birth of Solidarity and free trade unions. Martial law brought fear, mixed with anger and hatred towards the authority. The free elections of 1989 sparked enthusiasm, but also disappointment in the new political and economic order. The year 1993 proved to be particularly significant for women’s health and lives, as it was then that the anti-abortion law was passed, the effects of which are still being felt today.’
The presence of women in the 1980s made its mark in many areas, ranging from the public spaces and political activity, through social activism and professional life, to the arts, science, counterculture, and everyday life. The exhibition focuses on four dimensions of the female experience, presented in the sections: ‘Family’, ‘Church’, ‘State’ and ‘Brave New World’ (covering the years 1989–1993).
The exhibition consists mainly of photographs depicting the private and public lives of women, both famous and unknown. It portrays female intellectuals, sportswomen, opposition activists, scientists, doctors, teachers and artists. The exhibition will feature works by renowned photojournalists: Marzena Hmielewicz, Anna Michalak-Pawłowska, Anna Musiałówna and Agnieszka Sadowska. These are accompanied by reproductions of works by Polish female artists: Urszula Broll, Katarzyna Górna, Izabella Gustowska, Joanna Kabala, Natalia LL, Irena Nawrot, Mariola Przyjemska, Ewa Partum and Janina Kraupe-Świderska. ‘Their works are not only an extremely important testament to the era but also a harbinger of the changes that were to come in the following decades’ say the curators. ‘Artists interested in the theme of female sexuality pioneered a challenge to cultural gender constructs and the state’s reproductive policies, whilst fighting for women’s self-determination and agency. They sought ways to express their own sensuality and physicality in the public sphere, which were previously absent. We also base our narrative on excerpts from films, chronicles and interviews conducted as part of the Women’s Archive project.’
The DSH exhibition ‘THE ’80s LOOK AT US’ has been organised in collaboration with the Institute of Literary Research and the Women’s Archive Foundation. The exhibition can be viewed from 8 October 2026 to 21 February 2027 at the DSH gallery (20 Karowa Street, Warsaw).
An exhibition presented as part of the Women’s Archive project “We’re Changing the World—Women’s Movements in Poland, 1980–2004” and the 2026 Heroines Festival of the Institute of Literary Research, Polish Academy of Sciences.
Admission to the exhibition is free. We also welcome you to come to the DSH with your four-legged friends.
The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog published by DSH:
Concept, photo selection and texts: Monika Rudaś-Grodzka, Łucja Iwanczewska, Katarzyna Stańczak-Wiślicz
Managing editor: Małgorzata Purzyńska
Catalog graphic design and layout: Kuba Maria Mazurkiewicz
Editors: Marta Markowska, Małgorzata Purzyńska
Translation: Grażyna Waluga
Proofreading: Anna Kaniewska (Polish), Christopher Smith (English)
Catalog coordination and production: Magdalena Stefańczyk
Prepress: Tomasz Kubaczyk
Printing: Know-How
Copyright © Dom Spotkań z Historią
1st edition
Warsaw 2026
‘THE ’80s LOOK AT US’
curators: Katarzyna Stańczak-Wiślicz, Łucja Iwanczewska, Monika Rudaś-Grodzka
graphic design: Kuba Maria Mazurkiewicz
project coordination and exhibition production: Olga Pigłowska, in collaboration with: Magdalena Stefańczyk
editor: Marta Markowska
translation: Grażyna Waluga
proofreading: Anna Kaniewska (Polish), Christopher Smith (English)
preparation of photographs for print: Tomasz Kubaczyk
events programme: Weronika Komorowska, Agata Kucharska, Sebastian Gawęda
exhibition producer: Olga Pigłowska
compilation of the family guide: Magdalena Kreis, Magda Szymańska (editing and proofreading)
exhibition promotion: Zuzanna Figiel, Marianna Januszewicz, Marta Rogowska, Nadzieja Rudzka, Kaja Stępkowska
organisers: DSH, Women’s Archive
partners: Institute of Literary Research, Women’s Archive Foundation, Chanel
Despite our efforts, it has not been possible to identify the copyright holder for certain iconographic elements. We would be grateful for any information on this matter.
The Women’s Archive (AK – Archiwum Kobiet) is a research group that has been operating since 2013 at the Institute of Literary Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IBL PAN) under the leadership of Prof. Monika Rudaś-Grodzka. It was established in connection with the project ‘Women’s Archive: Women Writers’, which aimed to create a digital archive documenting previously unpublished autobiographical writings by women from regions with territorial and cultural links to Poland, from the 19th century to the present day.
The work of the Women’s Archive team extends beyond the field of documenting women’s writings. It’s also involved in publishing (the IBL PAN series: Lupa Obscura and Women’s Archive: Documents), co-organises postgraduate programmes in gender studies and Polish-Jewish studies, organises open and closed academic seminars, and participates in or organises events aimed at promoting or popularising science. The team, or its individual members, have also been involved in educational projects.
In 2024, the Women’s Archive team began work on the project ‘We Change the World. Feminist Movement in Poland (1980–2004)’. The aim of the project is to document and promote knowledge about Polish women’s movements from the time of the founding of NSZZ ‘Solidarność’ (Independent Self-Governing Trade Union ‘Solidarity’) to Poland’s accession to the European Union.
The History Meeting House (DSH) is a cultural institution based in Warsaw. For more than 20 years, we have been popularising modern history in the spirit of freedom of speech, accessibility, respect for cultural heritage, and tolerance. Our multigenerational programme reaches its audience through unique and appealing offerings. Over the years, we have developed a distinct methodology, and have earned a strong position among partner institutions and the general public.
Exhibitions remain the primary element of DSH’s programming, and it will continue this way in the years to come. Photography, with a particular focus on photojournalism and artists’ collections, occupies a special place within it. Our exhibitions are accompanied by debates, lecture series, film screenings, educational workshops, seminars, conferences, and other artistic events. We are also active in publishing and arts management.
We produce theatrical performances and documentary films. Our Oral History Archive (AHM) is the largest collection of biographical-account recordings in Poland.
Each year we organise the Heroines’ Festival and Warsaw’s commemoration of the 4 June 1989 elections, called ‘We Chose Freedom’. We are a co-organiser of the The Kazimierz Moczarski Warsaw History Prize and run the Warsaw History Book Fund. Along with the University of Warsaw’s Digital Competence Centre and the Institute of Literary Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, we operate the School of Historical Documentary Film postgraduate program. DSH is also the publisher of the cultural magazine ‘Dwutygodnik’.
