1983 – 1986
From Marshall Law to Chernobyl
„Tube” Happening

The formal imposition of Marshall Law lasted one year and was suspended at the end of 1982.  It was only a formal conclusion.  The battle went on but with time signs of stagnation appeared. The strength of both the authorities and opposition was gone.  Apathy settled in the middle of the 80's.

Then on April 1st, 1986 on the street in the center of Wroclaw, young people appeared suddenly dressed up in unusual costumes. Holding hands they strolled the streets merrily carrying along paper tubes, that eventually went up in flames. The entire old town square was in a smokey haze. This was a happening, an artistic creation, a new form of expression, which would soon become wildly popular in Poland.

The organizers of these Tube happenings were "Major" Waldemar Fydrych, Krzysztof Skarbek, Piotr Tyszkowski, Andrzej Głuszek, Sławomir Monkiewicz and Leszek Frydryszak.

In the same month, on the 26th of April, the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe occurred.  Major Waldemar Fydrych and Piotr Gusta started their anti-nuclear poster actions.

Gallery