POLIN Museum presents 'A Frame of Suffering,' a special viewing of Marek Oberländer’s "Ghetto" frieze. This monumental 1955 composition, depicting despair through intense colors, offers a profound artistic reflection on the Holocaust. Unseen by the public for over seven decades, this significant work provides a powerful visual testament to wartime experiences. The exhibition is accompanied by an online discussion panel.
Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for ‘A Frame of Suffering’ – a special presentation of Marek Oberländer’s "Ghetto" at POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw
This special presentation at POLIN Museum features Marek Oberländer’s monumental 1955 work "Ghetto," unseen by the public for over 70 years. The exhibition showcases the artist's powerful visual testimony of the Holocaust, rendered in ink and gouache on cardboard.
POLIN Museum presents for the first time Marek Oberländer’s significant work titled "Ghetto" (1955), a monumental composition that has remained largely unknown to the public for over seven decades. This special presentation, titled ‘A Frame of Suffering,’ offers a rare opportunity to view the artist's powerful visual testimony of the Holocaust. Executed in ink and gouache on cardboard, the frieze, measuring over four meters in length, depicts nude figures in gestures of despair rendered in intense, powerful colors. Curator Dr. Natalia Romik compares its scale and mode of representing collective experience to Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. Marek Oberländer, a survivor of the Second World War, did not verbally share his wartime experiences, but encapsulated them in this profound artistic work. The frieze serves as a visual testament to the Holocaust, employing the historical frieze form to narrate momentous and tragic events. The presentation is accompanied by an online discussion panel reflecting on the depiction of the Holocaust experience in visual arts. The "Ghetto" frieze is on loan from the collection of art historian and collector Krystyna Czartoryska and has been deposited at POLIN Museum.
Free admission to this special presentation is available on the ground floor of POLIN Museum (level 0), in the exhibition room behind the Austeria bookstore.
Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for ‘A Frame of Suffering’ – a special presentation of Marek Oberländer’s "Ghetto" at POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw
Pioneering abstract expressionist exploring themes of suffering and heritage.
Discover Barnett Newman's profound abstract paintings, making their Polish debut. This exhibition at POLIN Museum explores his iconic 'zips' and deep engagement with post-Holocaust themes and Jewish identity in 20th-century art.
Barnett Newman Exhibition
Discover Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino through artifacts and contemporary art.
Delve into the rich history and diversity of Jewish languages with this compelling exhibition. Understand their cultural significance and role in identity formation for dispersed communities worldwide. Features objects, texts, and thought-provoking contemporary art.
The Power of WordsExplore diverse art, historical displays, and cultural shows in the capital.
Seamlessly browse through an array of captivating exhibitions throughout Warsaw. Easily pinpoint your next cultural adventure, from major art installations to insightful historical presentations. Find new and inspiring displays to enrich your visit.