Basia Sokołowska
INTERIOR; BEYOUND SURFACE
MAJ 1997
Foto © Basia Sokołowska. From the series: Interior. Cibachrom 110/110 cm.
Foto © Basia Sokołowska. From the series: Interior. Cibachrom 110/110 cm.
Krzysztof Wojciechowski
Lares et Penates
The exhibition of Basia Sokołowska's photographs comprises works of great visual and technical diversity. They are linked by their common theme - home and interior.
The photographs of veiled windows appear to be the essence of home, indicated rather then described. Despite the light falling through the window we cannot distinguish the objects inside. These free-hanging, transparent sheets remind us that a window is a membrane which not only protects us from wind and sound, but which also allows information in, transmits the pulse of the outside world. Although they can be explored from both sides, these windows will always belong to the interior and its inhabitant and will guard their secret. Taken in different locations the photographs seem to be filled with the same desire to go back to that first, original, the only window, to the last glance from behind the curtain before falling asleep, to a glimpse of hope for the next day.
Rich in details large collages contain cut-out images from glossy interior design magazines. Such pictures create an illusion that all it takes to become a different, more important, interesting and fulfilled person is to arrange particular furniture in an appropriate interior. That is how - they try to convince us - a dream comes true. Using the word "dream" to talk about these images seems very appropriate for another reason: in the process of technical manipulation the colours of these photographs were reversed resulting in an unreal, dream-like atmosphere. Apart from the designer interiors there is another important visual element in these compositions, namely black and white pinhole photographs of the artist's family home. These technically imperfect, lacking details images can be seen as an equivalent of a dream or memories, as an oasis of personal dreams experienced in the flood of mass produced ones. Or as a photo of a very dear person which placed in the most humble of places makes us feel at home. Perhaps a peculiar lararium, a chapel devoted to home gods, a sanctuary where Lares et Penates have not yet been transformed into souless junk, as it has happened in the common usage of this expression.
The already mentioned pinhole photograps are also shown in the exhibition separately, as an autonomous body of work. There is an air of mystery about these images of the artist's home with it fragments, objects and furniture enveloped in darkness. They become a kind of nostalgic synthesis of memories blurred by time and distance.
On the most accesible level, Basia Sokołowska's exhibition talks about the experience of inhabiting a space, having a home - something known to everyone. In its essence, however, it talks about values that reach beyond purely material and functional aspects of a dwelling. It talks about the sources of hope and survival.
Krzysztof Wojciechowski
Foto © Basia Sokołowska. From the series: Interior. Cibachrom 110/110 cm.
(Basia Sokołowska)
(...) Each of these series now seems like from a different era of my life. Seeing them exhibited side by side is quite a new experience. Even though they seem very different I can see a strong link between them - a sense of continuity - maybe not so much in the technical approach as in the evolution of ideas behind them. Together they document a significant change that occured in my life in the time between them: a shift in my thinking about art, photography, myself, life. It is a nice surprise, an extra bonus to see this new aspect of my works. I enjoy and understand what now seems an organic and natural transformation. That is why this exhibition is so important for me (...)
Both series deal with home and personal space - to some extent both represent interiors. Interior/Mieszkanie is concerned with the family home - small pinhole prints are a sort of emotional document of its idiosyncrasies and convey a sense of security derived from them. By sheer contrast of size and form large cibachrome prints are surreal and overwhelming. They are dominated by designer interiors with stylish furniture and beautiful objects, but in spite of their seductive appearance and rich, baroque detail they don't invite me in; they are emotionally distant, perhaps even menacing. Not quite horror vacui but definitely a sense of apprehension, fear of the new, the unfamiliar. The humble pinhole prints seem to be in conflict with the large colourful compositions. It is only now that I notice this unresolved tension and, to be frank, I find it quite moving (...)
In Beyond Surface the tension is gone. There is a sense of continuity and flow between the interior and the space outside. Gone is also detailed and baroque complexity - the images of windows are simple - their richness lies in the subleties of textures and ambiguity of layers. Furniture and objects - so crucial in the earlier works have become only shadows or patches of reflected sunlight. They don't hinder the gaze, our attention is not entangled in the superficial intricacy of the surface, but glides beyond it, through the translucent, ephemeral panes towards open space. As if suddenly I stopped tripping over the furniture and noticed a window. Silent and motionless in the depth of a room I slowly start turning my face towards light (...) There is a detectable sense of movement away from the interior into yet undefined, but inevitable future (...)
Basia Sokołowska, (From a letter to a friend, Spring '97)
Foto © Basia Sokołowska. From the series: Beyound Surface.
Transparent material 100/150 cm.
Foto © Basia Sokołowska. From the series: Beyound Surface.
Transparent material 100/150 cm.
Sokołowska - biografic information.
Basia Skołowska's new exhibition you can see in
FOTOTAPETA
Copyright ©1997 Galeria FF ŁDK; Basia Sokołowska, Krzysztof Wojciechowski.