The subject of immigration affects every Polish person. If not directly, then through family and friends. Now anyone can be an immigrant – from a mechanic to a violinist. They can keep in touch with relatives on Skype, shop in a Polish produce-shop or wait for their first payment in pounds or euros. These things have become a multi-generational experience.

The blog Na emigracji weaves the concept of immigration into its main ethos. It was started in October 2013 and has amassed more than 10,000 followers. By using a style reminiscent of comic illustration it relates the trials and tribulations of immigrants who have decided to move to the British Isles. The minimalist watercolors are enriched with text (both in Polish and English), and used to highlight and outline the nuances of common experiences and unexpected situations faced by a Pole outside Poland. They are frequently comical – either through laying bare prevailing stereotypes (on both sides) or through making wry observations of cultural differences.

The blog has strong autobiographical themes. It’s a little report, a diary and above all an artistic record of experiences in which millions of Polish immigrants and their relatives can see reflections of themselves.

Publication supported by the Polish Cultural Institute in London

Do You Miss Your Country?
By Monika Szydłowska
Published by Centrala
ISBN: 978-0-9933951-0-9
Buy online