East Side Story

East-Side-Story I: Myślibórz

East-Side-Story I deals in the prism of today's migration movements with individual stories of arrival and the experiences that people made in their new surroundings, trying to make themselves at home.

The first series focuses on the western Polish areas east of the river Oder, where  a complete population exchange took place at the end of World War II.

Photos from the time of the resettlement (1940s to 1960s) were re-enacted and reproduced at the same location and - as far as possible - with the direct descendants.

 

1. Story: On the Wagon



2. Story: In Front of the House



During the advance on Berlin in 1945, soldier K. attached a note on the door of an empty house in the eastern Oder foothills: "Occupied by a Polish soldier."
At the time, his family was still in a Siberian camp, where they had been interned after eviction from their own home in eastern Poland. Soldier K. survived the Battle of Berlin, celebrated the victory over Hitler and then returned to the empty house.
His descendants live there to this day. His great-grandson poses for the pinhole camera.

3. Story: On the Combine



4. Story: The Walk



5. Story: Whitewashing



As a young boy scout Mr. Cz. was instructed by his father, who had recently become mayor of the western Polish town of Witnica, to remove German all signs and inscriptions or paint them over.

Since this memorable moment was not captured photographically it is substituted by a drawing.

6. Story: On the Field



7. Story: Fishing



Mr. Cz. Senior was the proud owner of a self-made car, which unfortunately was but rarely roadworthy. Here he is out and about in 1948 with his two sons on a Sunday fishing trip.

70 years later, the younger son takes the place of his father.

8. Story: Mother and Child



9. Story: At the Fountain



10. Story: On the Seesaw



11. Story: Cheers