Guided tour of the main exhibition of the Gliwice Photography Month “Intimacy. Hidden Emotions” and a conversation with Arkadiusz Gola

What is the daily life of young people who are just entering adulthood? What do they care about, what are they afraid of, what do they dream about? And what can you see when you look at the other person without judgment, but with attentiveness and curiosity?

Arkadiusz Gola, reporter and documentary photographer, will talk about this during the meeting accompanying the Gliwice Month of Photography, which will take place on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 17.00 in the Art Reading Room, in Villa Caro. His project “Generation NOW” was created during visits to the Training and Education Centres of Volunteer Labor Forces throughout Poland. The photographer spent time with young people, looking into their daily lives — between school, apprenticeships, boarding school and leisure time.

“This is not a story of spectacular successes or of unequivocal social problems. It is a record of growing up, searching for one's own identity and place in the world. I tried to photograph without judgment, observing young people both in reality and in the digital space. I have met many wonderful young people who, despite various difficulties, strive to gain a profession and independence. They are supported by educators who are able to perceive individual needs and help at the crucial moment of entering adulthood,” says Arkadiusz Gola.

During the meeting you will not only be able to see the main exhibition of the Gliwice Photography Month “Intimacy. Hidden emotions”, but also talk with Arkadiusz Gola about his work, meetings with the protagonists of the project and how to photograph another person, leaving him space for his own story.

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Arkadiusz Gola

Photographer, curator of exhibitions, graduate, and currently a lecturer at the Institute of Creative Photography of the University of Silesia in Opava. Member of the Association of Polish Photographers, ambassador of the FUJIFILM brand. For 34 years he was a photojournalist of the Silesian Press, mainly Dziennik Zachodni, now a photo columnist for this title. Professionally associated with the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze for which he photographs changes in societies, at the decline of the functioning of heavy industry.

He won prizes in the most important national photography competitions: among others: Polish Press Photography, BZ WBK Pressfoto, Newsreportaż. First place in the photo competition of the company “Bayer” Ecology in Lens 2003, awards in the competition of Silesian Press Photography, Grand Press Photo. Journalist of the Year in Dziennik Zachodni 2003. In 2010 he received the award of the Mayor of Zabrze in the field of Culture. Scholarship holder of the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship in the field of culture. In 2017 he was awarded the honorary badge “Meritorious for Polish Culture”. Author of dozens of exhibitions in Poland and abroad (Czech Republic, France, Germany, Belgium, Slovakia) and publications with documentary photography. His photographs are in the collections of museums in Poland and abroad, including the Silesian Museum, the Museum of the History of Katowice, the Museum of the History of Photography in Krakow, the Museum of Art in Olomouc.