Chris NIEDENTHAL (ur. 1950, Londyn)

A Large Demonstration of the Solidarity Movement during the Martial Law. Warsaw, Plac Zamkowy, 3 May 1982

1982/2016
pigment print, Harman by Hahnemühle Matt Cotton Smooth paper 300g,
89.2 × 60 cm (99.8 × 69.9 cm),
signed, dated and described on the front and reverse
edition: 1/10

This picture, taken during a Solidarity movement demonstration, is one of many photographs Niedenthal took at the time of the martial law in Poland. The image was captured from concealment, from a window of Niedenthal’s acquaintance’s apartment in Plac Zamkowy in Warsaw. In an interview about those days, Niedenthal recollects: "We agreed that I would photograph from the window of her place. All of a sudden, the riot police moved in: water cannons, tear gas." Taking a great risk, Niedenthal smuggled photographs showing the situation in Poland abroad.
The photograph was shown at Niedenthal’s solo exhibition entitled Freedom Is a Woman, Kordegarda Gallery, Warsaw (2012).
Publication: Chris Niedenthal. Selected Photographs 1973-1989 (BOSZ, 2014).