The Warsaw Rising Museum organises annual celebrations to commemorate the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising outbreak. The 2019 celebrations were special due to the milestone 75th anniversary of the event.

Every year, the museum tries to surprise the visitors by reminding them about history and paying homage to the heroes in a new way. It is important that the museum welcomes visitors returning each year with a fresh perspective and attracts young generations, who are often unaware of the history.

We live in a time when we spend a large portion of the day in front of computers and telephone screens.

We use these devices to fulfil the need to share our adventures, reflections as well as the most down-to-earth details of our everyday life with our loved ones and more distant friends. We are highly focused on ourselves, we are seeking an audience and we want to be noticed by as many people as possible. We like to talk about ourselves and look at our achievements.

The main point of the installation are two interactive mirrors. The visitor sees their own reflection in them.

While the visitor is looking in the mirror, a facial recognition algorithm searches for a historical “twin” in the museum’s database, giving the visitor a chance to meet them face to face as well as learn their name and tragic story.

How would I act in the moment of truth? Would I stand up and fight? Was it worth it?

"Reflection. I am like you, surely" is an exhibition focusing on the heroes of the Uprising. The exhibition asks the visitors the following questions: How would I act in the moment of truth? Would I stand up and fight? Was it worth it?

The walls and banners that make up the exhibition allow the visitors to read the statements of the insurgents who look back on their involvement in the uprising from today’s perspective. The culmination are two interactive mirrors placed in the middle of the exhibition.

The visitor sees their own reflection in these mirrors. While the visitor is looking in the mirror, a facial recognition algorithm searches for a historical “twin” in the museum’s database, giving the visitor a chance to meet them face to face as well as learn their name and tragic story. The mirror engages the visitor in a dialogue, asking them how would they act in a moment of truth. Would the visitor, like their historical counterpart, stand up, fight, and possibly, sacrifice themselves?

By looking in the mirror, we learn about the story of a stranger who, nonetheless, is a very similar human being.

Prizes, awards and articles

– Project of the Year by the Association of Polish Graphic Designers
– Article in 2020 February issue of "PAGE, dem Magazin der Kreativbranche"
– Presentation at 2020 MuseWeb conference in Los Angeles
– Project listed in The Creative Review Annual 2020 among the 96 best creative projects of 2019
– Silver European Design Award 2020