Beata Długosz

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Lives and works in Kraków, Poland. She is a member of the Association of Polish Art Photographers. She teaches photography at the Faculty of Art at the Pedagogical University in Krakow. In 2010 she obtained her PhD in Photography at the Film School in Łódź (PWSTiTV). In 2005 she was awarded a fellowship by the Mayor of the City of Krakow for her achievements in photography. Her works are part of the collection of Kraków’s Museum of Photography (MUFO) and the MOCAK Library collection. In 2014-15, she worked as the coordinator of the Main Program of the Krakow Photomonth Festival (MFK). Her work centres on such phenomena as emanation of light, the passage of time, photochemical processes. She works, mainly in traditional black-and-white photography techniques, makes experiments in camera-less photography, as well as site-speccific art installations. In recent years, her works have become critical of the current reality.

    The series of photographs was completed in 2009 and the project includes 24 black and white pictures. I produced these by using a medium format camera and black and white negative film.
     
   The inspiration for these pictures was the socrealistic architecture of the Nowa Huta district of Krakow. Nowa Huta is a communist inspired ‘satellite town’ build on the outskirts of the Krakow. It was built during the Stalinist era to house workers at the giant steal works. In the late 90’s Nowa Huta was re-discovered by artists and In the late 90’s Nowa Huta was re‐discovered by artists and intellectualists in Krakow. Nowadays, this place can still trigger the impression of the overwhelming authority of the communist ere with its skyline dominate by gray architectural blocks. Photographing this district, I cannot help but to ask myself about the contrast between the image I see now and the one from the past. This is particular interest to me how the architecture influences of the minds of the contemporary inhabitants of the Nowa Huta. To me, Nowa Huta is a labyrinth of gateways, passages and courtyards full echoes from the past. As a new resident of Nowa Huta I was often disorientated by the repetitive nature of architectural landscape with its system of crisscrossing passageways. I have attempted to capture these in my photographs. Here, windows formed frames for the fragmentation of architectural landscape. Courtyards and hidden spaces are captured in gaps and glances of passages and gateways. Translucent views framed in shop windows.
     This series of photographs is an attempt to explore the nature of the space of Nowa Huta. It views the vitality and founding concepts of the place.


Pauza Gallery, Krakow, 2010, fot. Jakub Pierzchała

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