presented by the Białowieża National Park

columned Hall of the Łódź Culture Centre, 18 Traugutta Street, Łódź 

Exhibition opening: 7.06.2017, 9.30 am

The history of the Forest is a history of its continuity. This most remarkable Europe’s wild forest has been close to the civilised world. It’s been living on near trade routes and villages or towns springing nearby. It’s been feeding and hosting kings and dukes for centuries. In politically unstable times it’s been also tribute with its enormous trees being cut down and transported into Europe. However, it also became a place where its basic protection was decided upon in the year 1921, being the most courageous and unprecedented actions of its kind in Europe. Polish naturalists earned international respect by turning a part of the forest which was the least altered by human activity into a strict nature reserve and also reintroductions a European bison to nature. These days, this natural treasure is unquestioned all people’s heritage. The exhibition consists of 50 photographs depicting the wildlife of Białowieża Forest, especially Białowieża National Park. They are telling about unique natural resources of the Forest: various tree stands, animals with their primeval behaviour, monument trees, dead wood and species living within it. The authors are professionally and personally connected to Białowieża National Park: Andrzej Keczyński, Tomasz Kołodziejczak, Renata and Marek Kosińscy, Grzegorz Okołów, Mateusz Szymura, Karol Zub. The beauty of landscape and portraits of wildlife enclosed in a photographic lens enable a more in-depth understanding of commentaries underneath.