Cardinal Karol Wojtyła. Photographs by Adam Bujak

The work of Kraków photographer Adam Bujak has always touched upon issues related to the spiritual sphere of human life. Spirituality resounds both from contemplative shots reflecting the beauty of nature and the most important city for the photographer – Kraków, as well as from photographs depicting the mysticism of religious ceremonies.

However, as he himself points out, the most important subject of his work became the figure of John Paul II, whom he photographed for over 40 years. He is seen by many as the Pope’s personal photographer.

The exhibition of Bujak's works is connected to the hundredth anniversary of the birth of the Polish Pope on 18 May 2020.

Ever since the first photo of Karol Wojtyła taken in Wawel Cathedral in 1958, tens of thousands of frames were created. They became records of the activities of that charismatic man, his influence on current events and on people who wanted to feel close to him - records filtered through the eye of the artist armed with a camera lens.

For Adam Bujak the photographs presented at the exhibition are a journey into the past, an opportunity to meet again with the man who was his spiritual guide. They are linked to a desire to go back to these special occasions. In this process, the chronology of events takes second place, and the first priority is to reminisce about issues that touched and fascinated the photographer.

The exhibition focuses on the Kraków themes in the biography of the Pope, showing him as the Metropolitan of Kraków, a cardinal, and finally as John Paul II, who stayed in Kraków during his pilgrimages to Poland.

Exhibition curator: Magdalena Święch
Exhibition design: Ewa Morzyniec
Coordinator: Katarzyna Szepieniec