The photography exhibition will take place in Birmingham, London & Scotland and is a result of an exciting collaboration with Centrala, an internationally renowned arts centre for Central and Eastern European – featuring the work of three well-established visual artists of Polish origin: Małgorzata Dawidek, Sylwia Kowalczyk and Paulina Korobkiewicz.
The exhibition is inspired by an UKRI/ESRC-funded research project focusing on health, social, economic & cultural impacts of Covid-19 on Polish migrant essential workers in the UK.
Dr Aneta Piekut commented:
Essential workers kept the society and economy 'going' during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our research based on the experiences of Poles living in the UK and who worked in essential work occupations pointed to many unique challenges they faced as migrants - in places of work, private lives and through separation from family and transnational networks. The exhibition shows various spaces where their lives were uncertain and (dis)connected from the previous lives and routines, family in Poland and the wider society which relies on their hard work.
Dr Anreta Pieket
Project Co-Investigator & Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Social Sciences
Exhibition dates, launches, and locations:
Birmingham: 3-24 Sept, Centrala, available during regular opening times
Exhibition launch: 2 Sept, 6-8pm. Address: Unit 4, Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley Street, B5 5RT. More information here.
London: 1-12 Oct, Clapham Library, available during regular opening times
Exhibition launch: 30 Sept, 6-8pm. Address: Mary Seacole Centre, 91 Clapham High Street, SW4 7DB.
Scotland: dates and venue: TBA. Exhibition launch: TBA.
The artists will each present original artwork inspired by the stories of our research participants: Polish essential workers in the UK.
Find out more about the exhibitions and the research project.
