Antisemitic Graffiti
How is it possible in a society free of racism that policemen are referred to as “sidelocks” and youngsters proudly call themselves “gestapo”? Is Anti-Semitism still a problem in Poland? Does it concern only right-wing extremists or all of us? Shall we talk about this or not? The aim of this project is not answering but rather asking questions.
The photos shown below (selection) have been taken between 2000 and 2008 in different Polish cities by Piotr Piluk, a Polish Jewish freelance photographer, publicist, and a journalist of “Słowo Żydowskie / Dos Jidisze Wort”. The idea of documenting anti-Semitic graffiti came to life by coincidence during another project. Visiting cities like Lodz, Gliwice, Swidnica or Nowy Targ, Piotr Piluk started to take pictures of inscriptions on the walls. Many of them have to do with football competition but there are some which directly and purposely attack ethnic or sexual minorities.
Jewish cementary, Starachowice 2003
“Jewish prostitutes”, Lodz 2004
“Soap from Jew – two pieces”, Swidnica 2000
In the summer of 2008 part of this documentation was exhibited during the International Conference on Racism “Intolerance Kills”. Afterwards we printed 12 of these photos and displayed them publicly during the multi-ethnic football tournament, part of the FARE Action Week. Then the exhibition was presented in the Jewish Historical Institute during the 70th anniversary of the Crystal Night. In 2009 this selection was presented in several Polish cities, including UEFA “Unite Against Racism” conference in Warsaw.
We encourage:
- galleries, schools, or universities to host the exposition and to arrange debates/lessons on racism,
- photographers to send us evidences of Anti-Semitism that would be printed, and added to the presentation,
- designers and printing-offices to prepare special web page and album with this documentation,
- intellectuals, teachers, scientists to share with us ideas how to teach about racism,
- anyone that would like to organize painting over of the anti-Semitic signs in his/her neighborhood,
- institutions, adults and children that would like to support this project somehow.