Rafal Milach “The First March of Gentlemen” is a fictitious narration composed of authentic stories. Historical events related to the town of Wrzesnia came to be the starting point for reflection on the protest
(...) and disciplinary mechanisms. In the series of collages, the reality of the 1950s Poland ruled by the communists blends with the memory of the Wrzesnia children strike from the beginning of the 20th century. This shift in time is not just a coincidence, as the problems which the project touches upon are universal, and may be seen as a metaphor for the contemporary social tensions.
The project includes archive photos by Wrzesnia photographer Ryszard Szczepaniak. Wrzesnia, Poland. 2017. © Rafal Milach | Magnum Photos