Open-air exhibition “Not only Daisy. Teresa Izhevskaya”.

We invite you to the outdoor exhibition “Not only Daisy. Teresa Izhevska”, which presents a short, but lush and tragic biography of the actress.

Exhibition “Not only Daisy. Teresa Iżewska” is a joint venture of the Jan Karski Institute of War Losses, Wybrzeże Theatre and the Gdańsk Scientific Society. Its aim is to recall not only the most famous role of Izhevska in Andrzej Wajda's “Channel”, but above all the extremely interesting artistic biography of the actress and the history of her career, which at a significant moment was limited by the political realities of the Polish People's Republic.

The exhibition is curated by Dr. Bartosz Gondek, director of the Institute of War Losses. The exhibition will be presented before the entrance to the Museum throughout October (free admission).

Curatorial description of the exhibition:

Exhibition “Not only Daisy. Teresa Iżewska” is a joint venture of the Jan Karski Institute of War Losses, Wybrzeże Theatre and the Gdańsk Scientific Society. Its purpose is to recall not only the most famous role of Izhevska in Andrzej Wajda's Channel, but above all the extremely interesting artistic biography of the actress and the history of her career, which at a significant moment was limited by the political realities of the Polish People's Republic.

Teresa Izhevska was only 26 years old when the Canal won the Silver Palm in Cannes in 1957, and her character “Daisy” brought her international recognition. At that time, the actress met the biggest stars of world cinema and opened up the prospect of an international career for herself. Soon, however, following the publication of an interview given to the French press, the Polish People's Republic authorities blocked her passport. In 1959, despite being nominated for a BAFTA award for the most promising debutant, she could not leave for London for the ceremony.

This episode is one of the most important themes of the exhibition, but the exposition is not limited to depicting Izhevskaya as a victim of the system. It shows above all a talented and versatile actress whose achievements have gone far beyond a single, albeit undoubtedly iconic role.

The exhibition takes the viewer through Izhevskaya's entire life — from her childhood and war experience, through acting studies, the worldwide success of the Canal and the suppression of her film career, to her later artistic activity on the Coast. A special place is occupied by her 18-year collaboration with Teatr Wybrzeże, during which she created at least 34 roles in a repertoire including works by Shakespeare, Molière, Wyspiański, Witkacy, Mrozek, Gombrowicz and Różewicz.

Photographs, documents and biographical information were presented on more than a dozen boards, including little-known facts from the life of the actress and one of the oldest surviving photographs of her. An important element of the exhibition are also artistic interpretations of the character and fate of Teresa Iżewska by the Krakow painter Martyna Hołda.

The exhibition is therefore not only biographical, but also historical and cultural. It tells about the place of Polish cinema in the post-1956 world, the possibilities and limitations that the reality of the Polish People's Republic posed to Polish artists, as well as the consequences of political decisions for individual careers and the development of Polish culture. At the same time, it is an attempt to restore the memory of the artist, whose potential was recognized on one of the most important stages of world cinema.