Konwiktorska 2-6 - the Old Town

         The mural painting is to be found on the fence of the football club Polonia stadium in the Konwiktorska street.
         To be precise, it's the second version of the mural. The first one, made by Rafał Roskowiński and Adam Walas was unveiled on July 31, 2009, at the eve of the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. Its area was 247 square meters. The painting consisted of two separate parts. The na?ve-heroic style of work by Roskowiński used to show Warsaw insurgents -making an onslaught on the German enemy- followed by presently-living young people carrying the national flags. Conversely, the work by Walas showed chaos in the ruined lighting City and insurgents struggling with well-armed Germans. The whole piece of work was entitled "Graffiti 44".
         The mural did not survive, though. The paint would come off together with plaster. Due to bad technical state, the painting had to be removed from the fence in the year 2016.
         A year later, the mural was re-enacted on the stadium fence. The current work shows various scenes connected with the Warsaw Uprising. The scenery of the destroyed Warsaw is the main theme of the mural which is simple in style, white-black-and grey, and very in good taste, indeed. The new painting was ceremoniously unveiled at the eve of the 73rd anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. The work by Adam Walas has an area of 250 square meters. It was able to be painted thanks to the local initiative by both the initiative Polonia Warszawa Fans Together, the City of Warsaw and the City Centre district.
         The place where the mural was situated is not coincidental. Between August 1 and August 26, 1944 there was the front line along the Konwiktorska street. From August 20 till August 22, 1944 the soldiers of the Home Army group "Radosław" - "Zośka" and "Czata 49" battalions gave a try to cease the German assault alongside the railway line nearby the Gdański Railway Station and join the insurgent units from Żoliborz that would attack from the north. The unsuccessful offence was tried upon through the Konwiktorska area. During the fight on the football pitch several insurgents had lost their lives, which was described on a plaque situated on the football club "Polonia" building.

compiled by: Maciej Janaszek-Seydlitz


pictures taken by: Maciej Janaszek-Seydlitz


translated by: Monika Ałasa