“The Road to Freedom: Poland through the Lens of Chris Niedenthal ”
On 13 December 1981 martial law was introduced in Poland – one of the most difficult and tragic experiences in the recent history of the country. Chris Niedenthal, photojournalist, had the opportunity to observe these events up close.
Chris (Krzysztof) Niedenthal was born into a family of Polish immigrants. The first time he visited his parents’ homeland was in 1963. Ten years later, he returned for what was planned to be just a short visit, but he ended up settling in Poland permanently. In 1998, he received Polish citizenship. Niedenthal has collaborated with such magazines as Newsweek, Time, Der Spiegel, Geo and Forbes. In 1986, he received the World Press Photo award.
He also documented the period of martial law. His most famous photograph shows a SKOT armored personnel carrier standing in front of the Moscow cinema in Warsaw, with a poster announcing a screening of the film Apocalypse Now by Francis Ford Coppola. This photograph became iconic of the period of martial law. Photos from Warsaw by Niedenthal were also the first to show this period abroad. Photography by Chris Niedenthal is a photo essay of the events of contemporary history – images of reality, the shadow of the truth and document everyday life. He is the author of the most characteristic images of the time war communism in Poland.
