Ways of the Black Spread Over the White Land: Polish-African Relations at MoMA Warsaw

This exhibition explores the complex relationship between Poland and Sub-Saharan Africa during the PRL era, examining how art, politics, and ethnography intertwined. It highlights the dynamics of Polish interactions with Blackness and Africa, a narrative shaped by anti-fascist and anti-colonial ideologies.

The exhibition "Ways of the Black Spread Over the White Land" takes its title from Marian Bogusz's 1948 painting, inverting its meaning to reveal the specific dynamics of Polish relations with Blackness and Sub-Saharan Africa during the Polish People's Republic (PRL). Following World War II, the imposed socio-political system promoted anti-fascist and anti-imperialist slogans, including condemnations of racism and colonialism. Art, politics, and ethnography merged, creating a complex network of meanings and interests. As African nations gained independence in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the PRL initiated collaborations that spanned ideological Cold War struggles and genuine interest in the decolonizing continent. These political contacts fostered an exchange of people and ideas, significantly influencing the visual culture and artistic milieu of the era. The exhibition juxtaposes facts, fantasies, and imaginations to present a vibrant, contrast-filled narrative about escaping a centrally planned reality, a framework whose political boundaries simultaneously paved the way for African diasporas in Poland. By bringing together works by artists from Poland, Nigeria, and graduates of Polish art schools originating from countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan, and Kenya, the exhibition examines past relationships that have been largely relegated to the margins of memory since the onset of systemic transformation.

Ticketing information is available via a "Buy ticket" link. Separate exhibition tickets may be required, as indicated by the booking link provided.