Stanley | Roots In Identity

Stanley, the first son and first in the village to go to the city for school. When WW2 broke out he was conscripted into the Russian army but let himself get caught by Germans, as it seemed better than staying. Whilst in a concentration camp, a friend smuggled a letter out to notify his family that he was still alive. By the end of the war, he escaped to Italy. He could not go back to Poland for fear of being captured by communists and so made his way to the UK. Settled, adapted, got married. He spoke fondly of his home and his country, yet didn’t teach his children Polish. When in ’96 he visited Poland for the first time he didn’t find the country that he had left.

Self-made charcoal from birch brought over from Poland.

Gabriela Proszowska

Degree Show 2023