There are few regions as far from their stereotypical image as Upper Silesia. Mines, steelworks and spoil tips – which are often the first thing people think of – are only a small portion of the local landscape. This is something that the curators of the exhibition: Dawid Smolorz (translator, journalist, populariser of the history of Upper Silesia, author of publications about the region and Central Europe) and Berlin photographer Thomas Vossbeck, who took photographs during flights over the Polish and Czech parts of the region in 2016 and 2017, would like to communicate to others. Although a view “from above” is nothing special in the era of satellite images, aerial photographs – in addition to their artistic value – show a perspective unknown to photographs taken from space.

In photographs, Upper Silesia amazes with its varied architecture and landscape. While there is no shortage of large industrial plants, the landscape is composed of towns which date back to the Middle Ages, residences owned by the nobility and picturesque villages.

The outdoor exhibition showcases the most spectacular parts of the region. The creators of the exhibition show Upper Silesia within its historical boundaries, which means that they cross national borders and also show the part falling within the territory of the Czech Republic.

The exhibition is part of a project titled “Upper Silesia from the Air”, whose partners are the University of Siegen and the Herder Institute for Historical Research on East Central Europe – Institute of the Leibniz Association.

Upper Silesia from the Air

4 February 2019 – 15 July 2019

Muzeum Śląskie, ul. T. Dobrowolskiego 1

outdoor exhibition – Plac Grubiorza / area between the baths and the administrative building

project coordinator: Maja Duda