First photograph

General description: The black and white photograph shows a group of young people during a street protest. In the foreground can be seen students dressed in costumes made of sacks and cardboard boxes. The clothes bear inscriptions with slogans referring to their demands or commenting on the political situation. In the background, the crowd carries banners with expressive inscriptions, including the recurring word “WE REPRESENT.”

Detailed description: The black and white photograph shows a group of young people taking part in a street protest. In the foreground you can see several people walking in a row. The clothes they are wearing are made of bags or cardboard boxes. One of them bears the inscription “YOU TAKEN OUR DREAMS,” while another reads “FOR WHAT ARE WE REPRESENTING?”. The background of the photograph shows a larger crowd of demonstrators walking in a tight group through a Krakow street. In their hands they hold large banners with inscriptions. The most conspicuous one is the repeated word “we apologize.”

Tomasz Łojewski's photo documents one of the many student protests that took place in Krakow in the late 1980s. It was a key moment of Poland's systemic transformation. A time when young people, especially students, were actively involved in actions against the communist system, fighting for freedom of speech and civil rights.

Improvised costumes and slogans on banners were characteristic of student demonstrations. They often took the form of happenings - combining a political message with elements of art and humor. The photograph is a record of the spirit of those times - on the one hand, full of tension and hope for change, on the other, characterized by a creative, ironic approach of young people to resistance to authority.

Second Photograph

General description: The black and white photograph shows a group of students gathered in a snowy square in Krakow. In the center of the image are people holding a large banner. It combines the names of political parties and juxtaposes them with the ideas of peace, health and development. More people and elements of the city's architecture can be seen in the background.

Detailed description: The black and white photograph shows a group of students in a snowy square in Krakow. In the center is a large banner made by hand. It bears the slogan: “LIVE THE PPS + PPR RACZE” with the caption: “PROGRESS, HEALTH, PEACE, DEVELOPMENT.” The letters are thick and black. In the background can be seen other students dressed in winter jackets. They are holding smaller banners with less clear lettering.

Tomasz Łojewski's photo is a document from the student protests that took place in Krakow in the late 1980s. The banner at the center of the photo is an example of humorous criticism of the authorities and official propaganda slogans. The juxtaposition of party names with abstract values such as “peace” or “health” highlighted the absurdity of the rhetoric used by the communist authorities.

The photograph captures the atmosphere of the end of the communist era, when the young generation played an important role in the processes of democratic change. Their actions, although often mocking and not lacking in artistic character, were an expression of courage and determination in the fight for freedom of speech and system change.

Audiodescription text: Emilia Szymanska

Audiodescription consultation: Adrian Wyka