FIRST
TEMPORARY EXHIBITION
AT THE PALACE MUSEUM
Palace Museum in Zakopane
This inaugural temporary exhibition at the newly established Tatra Museum branch presents a unique narrative of Europe's history of oppression. The artist has dedicated years to researching and documenting topics on political violence, with his works serving as a prominent voice in the crucial discourse surrounding our shared history. Particularly in the present circumstances, amidst the war in Ukraine, his work assumes a significance that surpasses the realm of art, serving as
a manifesto for the fight for historical remembrance.
The exhibition features a collection of photographic series originating from multiple countries, namely Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, and Ukraine. Within every artwork, one can observe the indelible imprints of tragedy in space, accompanied by the emotions linked to these locations. Odnoviuna is distinguished by its innovative approach towards the challenging heritage of authoritarian regimes. His photographs document and offer a reflective perspective on what has been forgotten. The artist urges us to inquire about the past and its consequential effect on the present.
The exhibition “Echoes of the Unseen” is an artistic experience and a space to reflect on the traumas brought by armed conflicts and authoritarian regimes. It is a unique opportunity to explore the intractable issues that shape Europe today.
We encourage you to visit the Palace Museum and explore Valentyna Odnoviuna's emotive work. The exhibition will remain on view until 28 February 2025. The Palace Museum in Zakopane is a subsidiary of the Tatra Museum. In 1940, the Germans decided to establish a Gestapo headquarters within the building known as the 'Palace' guesthouse in the Podtatrze region. The outpost encompassed the entirety of the then Nowy Targ county, which extended from Sucha Beskidzka to Szczawnica and from Lubno to the southern Polish border of 1939.
The guesthouse's basement was converted into a prison. The ground, first, and second floors were used as interrogation rooms for the arrested and as living quarters for Gestapo men. The Gestapo outpost, known as the “Katownie Podhala” (Executioner's Offices of Podhale), was heavily secured with rows of barbed wire along the fence that surrounded the pre-war guesthouse.
The Palace Museum is, above all, a memorial site. The permanent exhibition aims to shed light on the complex and difficult history of the Podtatrze region during World War II. It focuses on the people who lived through the harsh period of 1939-1945. The exhibition highlights events during this time, aiming to raise awareness among local residents and tourists about the region's historical significance. It covers all aspects of the challenging history of Podtatrze during the German occupation.
On September 17th, the Palace Museum in Zakopane hosted the opening of
a photography exhibition titled "Echoes of the Unseen" by Ukrainian artist Valentyn Odnoviun. The exhibition unobtrusively presents the challenging legacy of oppressive regimes captured through the artist's innovative perspective. The conceptual photography displayed at the Palace encourages sensitivity and provides room for reflection.
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