Bleaching: Confronting Colonial Patterns in Central and Eastern Europe at the National Museum of Ethnography, Warsaw

The temporary exhibition 'Bleaching' critically examines the National Museum of Ethnography's past, confronting colonial patterns and the myth of 'colonial innocence' in Central and Eastern Europe. It showcases archival photographs from Polish travelers and researchers in Africa, reflecting on the colonial gaze and the museum's founding myths.

The temporary exhibition 'Bleaching' (_Wybielanie_) offers a self-critical examination of the National Museum of Ethnography's history, aiming to reveal and confront colonial patterns. This is particularly relevant for an institution in a country that harbored its own colonial ambitions while also experiencing internal European colonization. The title directly addresses the 'colonial innocence' myth prevalent in Poland and other Central and Eastern European nations. The exhibition delves into the origins of the museum's collection, dating back to 1888 with objects brought from Cameroon by Leopold Janikowski. His expedition with Stefan Szolc-Rogoziński, financed partly by Henryk Sienkiewicz, aimed to establish a Polish colony in Central Africa. Although the expedition's original goals were not fully realized due to German colonization, it remains a significant founding myth for the museum. The text highlights how Poles, in their engagement with the colonial system, imitated imperial models to assert their place in Western culture and distinguish themselves from Black people by defining them as 'different' or 'alien.' This was reinforced by scientific and museum practices rooted in exoticization and the hierarchical evaluation of non-European civilizations. Curated by Witek Orski and Magdalena Wróblewska, 'Bleaching' presents archival photographs taken in Africa by Polish travelers, researchers, and journalists. These images are analyzed for their reproduction of the colonial gaze, mirroring the perspectives shaped by photographers from Western empires. The exhibition is structured around a timeline from the late 19th century to the present, documenting events crucial to understanding the context of the museum's African collections. The curatorial team, including Witek Orski (artist, photographer, curator) and Magdalena Wróblewska (art historian, museologist specializing in decolonial issues and director of the museum), brings expertise in visual culture and decolonial studies to this critical inquiry.

The exhibition is a temporary exhibition and details regarding ticketing or admission are not explicitly provided on this page. Visitors are likely directed to general museum admission information or booking platforms via the museum's main website. The page does mention accessibility features for visitors.