Historical performances have been staged in Murowana Goślina since 2007. Initially, the script changed dynamically, the meaning of the show evolved from the interpretation of local legends towards a national history. In 2016, on the 1050th anniversary of the baptism of Poland, “The Eagle and the Cross” was staged for the first time – a show produced annually, with modifications, to this day. The intertwining of the nation’s history and Christianity is realized here through quotes from historical paintings. On a grassy stage, in front of a grandstand seating two thousand people, the actors set in motion compositions by Jan Matejko, Jacek Malczewski, and Artur Grottger, supplementing them with symbols, objects, and gestures inextricably linked to national mythology. Staged on summer evenings, the show will be seen by twenty thousand viewers in 2024, the largest patriotic event of its kind in Poland.
In 2022, when Michał Sita was playing in the performances, he had a small automatic camera hanging around his neck. It was provisionally covered so as not to be visible to the audience, but it was clear to the other actors and organizers that photos were taken. The participants were also fully aware that it was part of the research and the artistic activities the artist was carrying out. Every second the camera (1) recorded the reality of the show from the actor’s point of view, (2) recorded events from Polish history as seen through the eyes of one of their participants, (3) commented on the way we give meaning to the past in this participatory action. This automatic recording and photos documenting the show’s grounds are the basis of the publication. It is supplemented by notes from interviews with people involved in the show and a short essay.
