Warsaw
Permanent collection

Everyday Life in Pawiak: A Permanent Exhibition at the Museum of Independence Warsaw

Uncover the struggles and resistance of prisoners during the German occupation of Pawiak from 1939 to 1944.

The Museum of Independence in Warsaw presents 'Everyday Life in Pawiak,' a powerful permanent exhibition. This comprehensive display meticulously reconstructs the daily experiences of prisoners held at Pawiak during the German occupation from 1939 to 1944. Visitors can explore thematic sections featuring historical artifacts, personal memoirs, and artworks, offering a profound insight into a significant period of Polish history and resistance. Learn about the individual fates and collective spirit within the prison walls.

About Dzień powszedni na Pawiaku (Everyday Life in Pawiak) at Museum of Independence in Warsaw

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Dzień powszedni na Pawiaku (Everyday Life in Pawiak) at Museum of Independence in Warsaw

Exhibition summary

This permanent exhibition at the Museum of Independence offers a detailed exploration of life within Pawiak prison during the German occupation (1939-1944). It showcases the daily routines, struggles, and resistance of prisoners, alongside broader historical context of the occupation and the Polish Underground State.

Curatorial context

The permanent exhibition 'Everyday Life in Pawiak' (Dzień powszedni na Pawiaku) at the Museum of Independence provides an in-depth look at the history of the Pawiak prison during the German occupation from 1939 to 1944. The exhibition meticulously reconstructs the daily lives of prisoners, hour by hour, drawing on the memoirs of functionaries, preserved drawings, poems, diaries, and personal items. The exhibition is divided into several thematic sections. 'The Pawiak Tree Hall' commemorates the tree that survived the prison's destruction. The 'Relics and Ciphers Hall' allows visitors to listen to recordings of prisoners' messages alongside original artifacts. The 'Pawiak Day' section details the prison routine, while 'Let's Remember Their Faces' (opened in 2008) focuses on the individual fates of those murdered, using surviving photographs and testimonies. A reconstructed prison corridor and cells from Ward VII, including a death cell, offer a visceral experience of the prison environment, complete with original fittings. The main part of the exhibition covers the German occupation system, the Polish Underground State's activities, forms of resistance, and the prison's covert internal network. It features documents, icons, underground publications, posters, maps, sketches, and personal items created by prisoners. Large-format enlargements of works by Bronisław Wojciech Linke, including the drawing 'Return,' are prominently displayed. The exhibition also covers the prison's history from 1835 to 1939 as a political prison, detailing the fates of various Polish figures throughout different historical periods, and concludes with the liquidation transports, the Warsaw Uprising, the destruction of Pawiak, and the museum's opening in 1965.

Admission and ticket notes

Visitors can purchase tickets for the exhibition. The page provides a link to the online sales form for ticket purchases.

Dzień powszedni na Pawiaku (Everyday Life in Pawiak) key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Dzień powszedni na Pawiaku (Everyday Life in Pawiak) at Museum of Independence in Warsaw

Venue
Museum of Independence
Current status
Permanent collection
Exhibition schedule
Permanent display (no announced closing date)
Artist line / attribution
The exhibition features sculptures by Zofia Pociłowska-Kann, including works titled 'Circle of Memory,' 'Korczak,' 'The Road of Annihilation,' 'Chawa's Last Dance,' 'Holocaust,' and 'At the End.' These ceramic and patinated sculptures are presented on charred wooden trunks.
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