Why are we so fond of Urzecze and Vistula? Firstly – ecology. Vistula is a phenomenon on a European scale, the only unregulated large river on our continent. Secondly – ​​Vistula had a huge impact on the economic development of Mazovia and Poland. It was a natural highway for the economy of our country. It was along our largest river that the most important Polish cities were founded, and numerous settlements were also established. Urzecze was farmed by, among others, the Olęders, agricultural innovators who came from Frisia and the Netherlands to the area of ​​today’s Saska Kępa in Warsaw in the 17th century. Thirdly – ​​the founder of InfoCredit, Iwona Surdykowska-Huk, once lived in an original Olęder cottage in Saska Kępa and saw perfectly well how much good the Vistula brought to the region and Poland. And finally – we were enchanted by how much the author of the album, Wiktor Strumiłło, does for Urzecze – camera operator, lighting engineer, licensed small-scale camera operator, photographer by passion, yacht captain, inland navigation helmsman and… lifeguard. Wiktor Strumiłło, among others, took drone shots for Ewa Ewart’s film “To the Last Drop” in 2023. This film won the “Golden Nymph” – Prince Rainier Award for the best documentary film at the 62nd Monte Carlo Television Festival and the 1st prize in the category “Oceans and their protection” at the Deauville Green Awards festival in France.

We want to recall the history of the Vistula and Urzecze. That is why in 2020 we decided to support the film “Lost Urzecze”, whose authors are Adam Rogala and Wiktor Strumiłło. Going further, we have collaborated on the publication of an album and exhibition of Wiktor Strumiłło’s photographs at the Coningsby Gallery in London, which will take place from 29 January to 4 February 2024.