Solidarność 1980 – 1983: Początki. An Exhibition on Underground Printing in Warsaw

This exhibition commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Solidarity movement by showcasing mimeographs used in underground printing houses, leaflets, brochures, and other publications from the second circulation. Visitors can also print a commemorative souvenir designed by Andrzej Zaborowski.

Marking the 40th anniversary of the Solidarity movement, the Museum of Printing presents an exhibition titled 'Solidarność 1980 – 1983. Początki' (Solidarity 1980-1983. Beginnings). The exhibition highlights the role of mimeographs and other printing tools in clandestine printing operations during that era, displaying leaflets, brochures, and various publications from the 'second circulation' – materials produced outside official censorship. The display features items from the Museum of Printing's collection, including illegal prints from 1980-1988 that illustrate the path to freedom. These underground leaflets and press materials of Solidarity document rallies, strikes, repressions, and the political realities of Poland forty years ago. The printed word served not only to inform but also to encourage the public, preserving memories of historical anniversaries and fostering hope, particularly during martial law. The exhibition also includes humorous leaflets with drawings and rhymes mocking communism and government figures, alongside literature distributed outside censorship by independent publishers like 'Zapis' and 'NOWA'. Artefacts such as thin zinc offset plates with fragments of opposition brochures further detail the printing techniques of the time. This presentation of second circulation prints from the 1980s offers a chance for reflection and remembrance, encouraging younger visitors to learn about Poland's recent history and the determination and sacrifices made in the fight against communist rule.

Entry to the exhibition is paid. Visitors can purchase tickets online via the provided link.