“The body in rituals functions as a symbol; it also functions as an intermediate among two processes (inside and outside the ritual).” Drawing on this premise, I have documented the March of Independence in Warsaw, observing how crowds collectively translate “the meaning and rationality of people” into bodily expression. Myth and ritual here converge to form a potent sign system—our bodies become both subject and object, continuously reformed by culture as much as by nature. In these images, flags and emblems operate like ritual conduits, connoting power, devotion, or national identity with merely a glance.

Yet what happens if we remove such symbolism from view? By digitally erasing or homogenizing the flags, I sought to strip the photographs of their overt cues. In so doing, the seemingly self-evident mythic layer—the readiness to surrender ourselves to collective movements and ideologies—begins to unravel. Devoid of vibrant symbols, we see the raw interplay of bodies in a ceremonial walkway: the postures and formations that once radiated political fervor or nationalist pride now appear ambiguous, almost muted.

If the homogenized flags appear white, they may even be read—cynically or otherwise—as a gesture of surrender. This visual twist underscores the tension between body and myth: stripped of color and context, these standardized flags undermine the rigid interpretive frames that the original event (the March of Independence in Poland) often provokes. Indeed, for various observers – from leftists who condemn it as a Nazi/nationalist rally to families who simply view it as a patriotic gathering — the March remains elusive and layered with contradictions. By obfuscating the clearly legible banners, the photographs highlight how the ritual and its meaning hinge on fragile, collectively upheld symbols—symbols that can vanish as swiftly as they appear, yet continue to govern our surrender to myth.