Woman Crush Wednesday: Joanna Wzorek
Untitled from the series The sun doesn't want to look me in the eyes, 2018 © Joanna Wzorek
How does being from Poland play a role in your photography?
It probably plays a far bigger role in my practice and life than I imagine. At first when you move to a different country, you want to reinvent yourself, forget about your past, but you soon realize that your heritage is what makes you unique. Instead of hiding it, it is important to embrace it and explore it. Right now, I am definitely in the process of appreciating where I’m from and using that in my photography with a bigger awareness. Creating work related to Poland, to my culture, and answering to the frightening politics that are going on there became a crucial part of my practice.
Ala, from the series Summer, Farewell 2020 © Joanna Wzorek
What inspires the bright colors and bold compositions in your photographs? How did you become interested in this style of photography?
I think it all happened organically and gradually somewhere along the way of being interested in photography and art in general. I’ve always been sensitive to color combinations. As a kid when wandering around galleries, I was drawn the most to the works of Malevich, Picasso and Nowosielski, so I wanted to follow their approach — but in photography, because I was definitely too impatient to practice painting. My awareness of using the colors came much later, probably when I studied photography at the London College of Fashion. It was there I discovered that you can explore photography much further than just one genre, that you can draw inspiration from all around you and create something true to yourself. To me, using primary colors became an obsession, especially reds and blues. They’re polar opposites, which definitely could be understood as radical emotions that balance each other out. And they very much match my feelings as a creator. When it comes to inspiration for the compositions and color use, mostly it is paintings and sculptures. A lot of it comes from a Polish art movement from the 19th and 20th centuries called Young Poland, but also Suprematism, Surrealism, Polish Avant-Garde and socialist realism. I’m especially interested in the works and lives of female artists from the 19th and 20th centuries who struggled to survive and never really got the acknowledgment they deserved from the male-dominated art world and only became acclaimed long after their deaths.
Salto, 2018 © Joanna Wzorek
What photographers do you look up to?
There are plenty for sure. Boris Mikhailov for his sense of humour, Torbjørn Rødland for the unexpected subject matter, Zofia Rydet for her humanity, Issei Suda for the intimate documentary and also photographers from the Bauhaus movement. But also painters or sculptors like Zofia Stryjeńska and Katarzyna Kobro. I admire all of them for being able to create their own unique visual languages and being persistent in what they did or do.
Zosia, from the series Summer, Farewell 2020
Describe your creative process in one word.
Excitement.
If you could teach a one-hour class on anything, what would it be?
It would have to be cooking and the ability of sharing food with others and enjoying it together.
Ronja, 2021 © Joanna Wzorek
What was the last book you read or film you saw that inspired you?
Recently I rewatched Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colours trilogy, and the Red part in particular is still so relevant to this day. Kieślowski is a master of light and composition, and without too many words he is able to create a very intimate and emotional scene. I love all the references that he uses and the shifting dynamic between the old judge and the young student. Red is about the meaning of empathy and humanity in our lives, and it’s just so relevant with what is happening around us at the moment.
Untitled, 2018 © Janna Wzorek
Wenchu, 2019 © Joanna Wzorek
What is the most played song in your music library?
In the last few weeks, “WILSHIRE” by Tyler, the Creator. All-time, “Drum Is a Woman” by Laurence Guy and Steve Spacek.
How do you take your coffee?
I don’t drink coffee, so green tea — pure matcha, preferably — with all the tools and rituals before serving.
To view more of Joanna’s work, visit her website.
