The Homeless Gallery has opened. A great opportunity for photography enthusiasts.

This is an initiative of the Szczecin Photographic Society, which aims to unite Szczecin's artistic community – primarily photographers. After many years, the Homeless Gallery is returning – a place where everyone can showcase their work, meet other artists, and discuss art with them.

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Reportage, portraiture, street photography, conceptual photography, travel photography, and even pinhole photography – images representing these photographic genres can be admired at Galeria Bezdomna (Homeless Gallery). This one-day gallery features photographs provided and edited by the artists themselves. Preparations began at 2:00 PM in the building at 4 Św. Ducha Street. The post-industrial, loft-like character of the rooms added to the atmosphere of the entire exhibition.

"The idea behind the event is for anyone who takes photos to be able to show and present them—and do it in an easy, accessible way. Anyone can bring a printed photo and hang it here. You can also invite your friends," explains Agnieszka Janucka-Popiołek from the Szczecin Photographic Society. "The idea is to have these photos printed so we can meet and talk about them. I hope it will spark discussions about photography, about who took what, why they take photos. Maybe someone will be inspired by an idea, someone will copy something from someone else. I hope it will be a creative, inspiring meeting."

Photographers associated with the Szczecin Photographic Society, including Zbigniew Wróblewski, Zbigniew Pajewski, Andrzej Graba Grabowiecki, Agnieszka Janucka-Popiołek, as well as people from outside the association, including many young artists, showed their photos.

This isn't the first Homeless Gallery in Szczecin. Years ago, Zbigniew Wróblewski documented this initiative.

"Twenty years ago, I documented it all; I have all the photos from that time and all the events. Then there was a long break, and now the Photographic Society is reviving it again, because it's a fantastic idea that originated in Łódź back in the 1970s. And they, these Homeless Galleries, traveled all over the country. It's a great event because it allows people to express themselves. On Facebook, it's just Facebook, small photos, and that's it. But here, you can show your work in a larger format without being affiliated with any organization. Simply showing yourself. And that's a wonderful thing," he told "Kurier Szczeciński."

A famous documentary filmmaker also showed his works.

"Today I'm presenting pinhole photography. Photos I took with a chocolate-covered plum tin, 18x24 in size. And these are photos taken on paper negatives, then contact-copied," explains Zbigniew Wróblewski.

Zbigniew Pajewski presented an interesting work - it is one photo printed several times and combined into a collage.

"It's just one photo, but it's two and a half meters wide. I hope that quantity has somewhat transformed into quality," says the photographer. "The title of the work is 'It Wasn't Nothing Again.' It's a tonal montage—some in black and white, some in color. It's a bit of an allegory about things that were once there, gone, and it's nice to remember them, even though today they don't seem special at all." ©℗

Text and photos by Agata Jankowska

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