Wanda Rutkiewicz. Fotografie: An Exhibition of Iconic Himalayan and Karakoram Mountaineering Photography

This exhibition showcases photographs taken by Wanda Rutkiewicz in the Himalayas and Karakoram during the 1970s and 1980s. The collection features iconic peaks such as Mount Everest and K2, capturing the awe-inspiring scale and challenges of high-altitude mountaineering.

The exhibition 'Wanda Rutkiewicz. Fotografie' presents a collection of photographs captured by the renowned mountaineer Wanda Rutkiewicz in the challenging terrains of the Himalayas and Karakoram during the 1970s and 1980s. Visitors can experience "The Roof of the World" through Rutkiewicz's lens, including striking images of Mount Everest, where she made history as the first European woman to summit on October 16, 1978. The exhibition also features majestic views of K2, the world's second-highest mountain, which she conquered as the first woman on June 23, 1986, and captures the poignant "Kopiec Gilkeya" (Gilkey's Cairn), a symbolic and actual cemetery for climbers lost on K2. Further highlights include photographs of Cho Oyu, Annapurna, and Gasherbrum, illustrating the technical difficulties and severe conditions faced by climbers. Rutkiewicz's artistic eye is evident in her sensitive and skillful capture of these imposing landscapes, many presented in striking black and white. The collection reveals not only the grandeur of the mountains but also the solitary spirit of the climber, as exemplified by a powerful image on the Baltoro Glacier. The exhibition concludes with a portrait of Wanda Rutkiewicz, taken in 1968 by Jan Bortkiewicz, the owner of the collection, offering a personal glimpse of the celebrated alpinist.

Admission to the exhibition is free. It is located on the ground floor of the Olympic Centre building, where the Museum is situated.