Currently on view at the Pilecki Institute in New York, this installation introduces visitors to the Institute’s patron, Witold Pilecki. The display serves as a preview of the upcoming permanent exhibition, Proof of Courage, opening later this year.
The exhibition tells the story of Witold Pilecki as both a witness and a hero of resistance against two totalitarian regimes—German Nazism and Soviet communism—while highlighting the universal themes of courage, solidarity, and the high price some societies pay for freedom.
The permanent exhibition will explore Pilecki’s life through seven thematic modules, each representing a key period in his extraordinary journey. At the heart of each module is a carefully recreated outfit inspired by his authentic attire: from the scout uniform of his youth during World War I and the struggle for Polish independence, to the officer’s uniform of the Polish Army, the clothing of a landowner and cooperative activist in the interwar period, the camp uniform he wore during his mission to Auschwitz, and finally, the modest suit of a political prisoner under Stalinist rule.
These visual elements are complemented by illustrations, films, period photographs, multimedia materials, and informative texts. Through modern exhibition techniques and a focus on Pilecki’s “material presence,” the exhibition offers a powerful tool for remembrance, challenging disinformation and simplified historical narratives about Poland and the region.
