Zofia Rydet, rough outline of the Sociological Record 1978–1983 exhibition, undated manuscript, c. 1983, Zofia Rydet Foundation

The main element will be photographs of interiors of homes with their owners. There are great numbers of them; to keep it from becoming tedious they had to be shown in various formats: from one meter to 9x13 centimeters, and in various assortments, e.g. a hut with its exterior (40x50 cm) and an interior with a person, four photographs, interiors from a certain region (24x30 cm), and similar assortments: couples, women, children, the ill, or homes that are similarly decorated, e.g. old interiors with wood-burning stoves, or characteristic pictures and tapestries. Either a board showing a single hut or a house, and photographs showing the owner and furnishings. Through comparison you can clearly see the differences between regions.

Apart from this, there will be various thematic series:

A series documenting various kinds of huts, houses, always photographed from a single point of view.

Still life series: objects that surround people, sometimes almost surreal, e.g. a series of television sets that are very creatively decorated, a series of tapestries with various inscriptions, etc.

The “Myth of Photography” series, showing the role of photography in “decorating” apartments and in commemorating the most important family events.

A series of country windows from the inside with very decorative potted flowers. With the characteristic table between the windows, which is the main fixture in the space.

The “Presence” series, showing the worship of the Holy Father in very elaborate frames.

The “Women on Doorsteps” series, where various elements of construction and decor show the same theme in its various aspects.

Portraits of people, using the same technique, in interiors, with a touch of Rembrandt, in frames that give the pictures the feel of paintings.

Perhaps there will also be a series of wagons with horses, which differ greatly in the various regions of Poland. The most beautiful ones are the wagons in Podhale—very large ones, which can fit whole families dressed in their festive clothing—traveling to the fair, all done up with flowers; or the hay wagons, with the whole family sitting on top, and the dogs running behind them.

To break up the subject and to situate it there will be meter-long landscape photographs, panoramas of villages and small towns.

The exhibition will be punctuated by photographs showing roads into villages, with original road signs.

Some places, such as Chochołów, will be shown in their entirety: views, streets, huts, interiors, people, and reports on various ceremonies, e.g. baptisms, weddings, funerals, processions, etc.

The Record shows not only people of the countryside, though that is the focus, but also interiors and people from the cities, particularly interesting interiors of artists, or rooms of young married couples and standard interiors with no special personality, with wall units, etc.

The [organizing] principle of the exhibition will be the various regions: Podhale, Rzeszów, Lublin, Silesia, etc.