Beata Wilczek

Beata Wilczek

Wroclaw, Poland

flickr website 

photoblog stylingblog

 

 

Beata Wilczek is a photographer/stylist living and working in Wrocław, Poland. She describes her work as a form of intimate and dark, fashion-oriented photography, which she often uses as the basis for handmade collages. Many of her projects have been published and exhibited both in her hometown and internationally. Her work as a head women’s wear stylist at the Uniqlo Global Flagship Store in London, UK, became a valuable experience in the fashion industry. After collecting further free-lance experience in Berlin, Germany, Wilczek is currently attending  the Academy of Fine Arts and completing an MA in Psychology, while also working at the leading Polish art gallery Design-BWA Wrocław.

What do you find most peculiar about photography as an art form?

Its simplicity. Still, I often have this feeling that photography is not enough when it comes to my work and that’s why I turn my photos into handmade collages

Do you have a favorite among your own pictures?

I have a few, but I think it’s more about them representing a certain memory. This one was taken in Morocco while I was sitting on a camel. The second one was taken in Houston. I always wonder what's wrong with the shadow and why they would leave such a sad tree like this.

Do you like online street style look books/blogs?

I do. It gives me a lot of inspiration when it comes to styling and fulfills my voyeuristic needs. I think there is plenty of work for sociologists thanks to them. It would be great to read some sort of scientific paper on street style blogs. I also think it is a great phenomenon about individuals, like a case study. I remember having a few walks with Yvan Rodic/Face Hunter, and it was interesting to watch him work.

Do you enjoy purchasing and collecting art for yourself?

I like to collect, especially animals. Plastic, porcelain, wood, you name it. Also I am considering getting Peter's elephantnose fish. It’s a beautiful animal and it would be a good companion for my snails. When it comes to art I prefer to show it, what I do with CN, a small art-curating project. You can find more about it here.

And do you think that collecting art is still a marginal or elite thing to do?

I think it's marginal, and I'm sure to most of the people who do it, it is an elite thing.

What is creativity to you?

It's creating a new, useful quality for something what already exists.

Do you think there is any individual thought or idea at all?

I think there is plenty of it.

What do you do to recover when you feel exhausted from everyday life?

I like to go to the cinema, eat, cook, photograph, make collages, kiss, read, buy new books, plan future travels, walk, talk, listen.

Best advice ever given to you, for any context of life?

It was more of a conclusion after a long workshop with the cinematographer Jacek Petrycki. He said to me that whatever you want to do, just do it now. I was 18 then and instead of buying a camera, I bought myself a ticket to China. I haven't stopped following his advice since then.

Collage and style. Take a look at her work!

Daniel Dueckminor

Daniel Dueckminor

Munich, Germany

website

Where were the pictures of your set "Space" taken? How did you get there?

Most of the photos were taken during travels through Europe. I got there by car, plane, boat or train, but since I like it some little adventure here and there, I even climbed or roped down to a spot that looked promising.

Which thoughts are behind the title "Space"?

The title seemed adequate for a feeling that sums up this mysterious language nature offers for communication at certain times. Some places emanate an arcane energy, that can be enhanced or channelled by post processing to even reach a baffling cryptic mood. Space  - in terms of the universe - for me is representative for the search of people trying to disclose nature’s yet unsolved secrets.

As many artists, you divide your photographic work into analogue and digital sets. Despite the technique, what do you think are the biggest differences between these two?

Maybe, the emphasis lies on everything that happens before you push the release in analogue photography, whereas in digital photography the emphasis lies on everything that happens after you push the release.

With analogue photography the most interesting challenge for me is to rely on what I see and how I see it. Taking a picture in the right situation and time and is the fun part. The challenge is the actual picture you take, and not what you make out of it afterwards.

You live and study in Germany; are there any places and cities that have a vivid art scene, but are (yet) unknown internationally?

I was lucky to present my work in Düsseldorf a few weeks ago and it definitely offers a vibrant art and music scene.  No wonder that some of the most important ‘kraut’ rock bands emerged from this city. I think that Dresden and Leipzig have great potential, too.

And how is life in Munich? Would you exchange for any other city?

I can only advise everyone to experience Munich in summer. Whilst it is a pretty conservative city during the rest of the year, it somehow transforms into a paradise of relaxation in summer in which it is considered eminently respectable to drink gallons of beer an lie around in the parks. I'd exchange for London and Brisbane, though.

Back to your photographic work, wherein dreaminess, dust, fog, and mystery seem to be reoccurring themes. What inspired you to following these motifs?

To me, dreaminess, dust, fog and mystery are just like an ever-continuing journey into the unknown secrets of nature. There's no end in sight and that's a great motivation to keep on exploring this theme.

Area studies. Take a look at his work!