Stan wojenny w opowieściach biograficznych polskich artystów emigrantów
Martial law in the biographical stories of Polish artists emigrants

Summary/Abstract: The introduction of martial law in Poland in 1981 had serious political, social and economic consequences. It is a period in which significantly increased the migration potential among Poles. This was reflected also among artistic environment. The article shows the fate of artists who have decided to leave the country or remain permanently outside Poland. From biographical stories of artists living in Paris, Berlin, London and New York fragments of narrations relating to this period ware separated and analyzed, due to show various migration circumstances in the context of personal, environmental and historical factors. Although the fate of individual artists had each time an individual shape, it is possible to reconstruct the social mechanisms commonly shared by most of immigrants. An important element of the text is describing the system of repression used by the authorities, such as the so-called passport policy. The text next to the presentation of the fate of Polish émigré artists, deals with the problem of emigration in the category of cultural loss which is bear not only by the individuals but also by whole society.

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