Press releases

BREST, 20 October (BelTA) – Rare photos of the Polish city of Bialystok before the war are available as part of the exhibition that opened in the Brest Oblast Local Lore Museum on 20 October, BelTA has learned.

The exhibition features over 30 photos taken by Boleslaw Augustis in 1935-1939. The photos bear witness to important historical events that happened in his native city. Apart from fine specimens of architecture visitors can see Bialystok residents busy living their lives or walking down the streets. The artist also covered marches, marriages, and funerals. The black-and-white photos clearly reflect the age between the wars. “The photographer literally documented these events. Every picture offers a close and personal look at people’s lives. I think visitors will be interested in seeing their faces. Instead of Bialystok one can imagine virtually any other city of pre-war Poland of the 20^th century,” noted Tatiana Neklyudova, Deputy Director of the Brest Oblast Local Lore Museum.

The photographic heritage left by Boleslaw Augustis has a historical and artistic value. “The exhibition will surely impress both fans of good documentary photography as well as history researchers. In essence these photos are a window into the world that is no longer around,” stressed Krzysztof Rosinski, Consul of the Consulate General of Poland in Brest.

Alexander Murashkin, Head of the Central Office for Ideology, Cultural and Youth Affairs of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee, remarked that the pre-war photos of Bialystok allow one to grasp the full value of peaceful and calm life.

Works by the talented photographer Boleslaw Augustis were revealed to the world by accident. In 2004 Bialystok teenagers found hundreds of films and dozens of glass negatives or over 6,000 pictures in total in an abandoned shed. The pictures were delivered to the editor-in-chief of a local newspaper, who cleansed the negatives and recognized their true value.

The exhibition of rare photos by Boleslaw Augustis will stay open till 20 November. It has been organized by the Consulate General of Poland in Brest in association with the Brest Oblast Local Lore Museum and the cultural education association Widok.