I invitation you to Flow Art home for an exhibition of painting and photography entitled "Hiding Actions". I present oneric, sensual photographs of Olga Urbanek in company with abstract images by: Jósefiny Alanko, Aleksanda Batura, Dashy Buben, Katarzyna Feiglewicz-Pest, Katarzyna Jarzab, Tomasz Prymon and Jakub Słomkowski – artists, connected with the gallery all day. They combine creative awareness, minimalism in the means chosen, simplified composition, as well as light, interior movement and rhythm. They affect subtlety of colors and sophisticated accents of colours. They put you in a good trance.
Marta Krajenta: Why did you choose photography as a average for work?
Olga Urbanek: From an early age I felt a strong request for creative expression, but for a long time I could not find my psychic. I was never good at expressing my emotions in words, so writing was out. I besides tried my hand in drawing, but I had no patience... Then I discovered a photograph. I have a large request to control what's in my pictures. For me all motion matters, so sometimes I photograph the same object or pose repeatedly to make certain that I have exhausted all possibilities. At present, I mainly usage a digital camera, but I am slow beginning to feel a desire to experimentation with another techniques.
Have you been studying at someone's?
As a teenager, I posed many times as my friends photographers, which helped me get utilized to this area early, but I did not dare to catch my camera for a long time. I have no formal education in photography, but completed studies in art past taught me the sensitivity to composition and color.
Under what circumstances did you take professional pictures?
It all started after I left for Iceland. I was very rapidly offered to print a series of photos in a reputable online magazine, which led me to think about transforming my weekend hobby into a professional job.
What do you think is most crucial in a good picture? How would you put it?
I've always been fascinated by the fact that through photography I can make a planet that doesn't exist. I wanted to be a photographer of imagination. I value the photograph more than anything else, in which I see the tremendous amount of work put into developing an thought that no 1 else has always encountered before. It is besides crucial for me to be free to make and follow my instincts.
Your photos are very sensual, thoughtful. You can see that the body is something you like to work with.
I like to give the body geometric forms. I like it erstwhile the background blends in in a somewhat unobvious way.
And most often, it's a female body.
Women work easier, they don't have a problem moving that sensual cell in their body. Even if we just met in session. I feel that in order to be photographed by a man at a minute erstwhile he feels sensual, we request to know each another much better and longer.
Interestingly, you frequently pose as yourself, even if you are hard to recognize. I wonder if this is due to convenience, spontaneity or weakness for self-portrait?
Many of my photos are made during the journey, including those I do solo. Sometimes my posing comes from a pragmatic choice, but more frequently it's intentional. I know my body, I know what I request to take a image and how to work with it. In addition, it allows me to research more risky situations, with the hope of getting better staff. I most likely wouldn't ask a model to do the same.
What inspires and motivates you to take pictures? How would you describe this impulse?
Recently, my interest has focused on creating photographs that go beyond the frame. I would like each of them to be something else to the viewer, to discover details in it that I myself did not see. I've always been fascinated by an unobvious approach to the subject. The more different the better. In addition, I am trying to avoid already impulsive shooting. all image is simply a trial for me. I put quite a few weight on props, location and casting. I value my designs. There is nothing more satisfying than creative freedom. I think that's erstwhile my best work comes together.
What are the pictures presented at the “Hiding Desires” exhibition? Tell me, please, the scenes of respective frames.
It's a small tale of femininity and sexuality, and a small communicative of loneliness, isolation and shame. any of them are self-portraits that were created during my travels.
How do you choose this “one” frame?
The process of selecting this "only" frame is not easy to describe technically. I usually make fast selection based on intuition and emotion. The image either gets to me or not. Although erstwhile choosing it is besides worth paying attention to current trends in photography and experimenting with conventions and staff.
The exhibition at Flow Art home is your first exhibition in Poland. You already have presentations on your account in London, Los Angeles, and late in Berlin, where all works have sold almost immediately. I imagine the satisfaction is enormous.
I surely didn't anticipate this to happen. I think the energy of events and the anticipation of seeing pictures in printout and frame made them the object of desire among buyers. I take all photograph very personally, so erstwhile individual sees it as not only financial but besides emotional, it gives me large satisfaction.
You live outside Poland, first for 5 years in Iceland, and late in Berlin. Why these places? Do you choose them due to their photogenicity?
When I left for Iceland, I didn't know I was going to do photography professionally. The departure was a part of the process of self-reliance in adult life alternatively than an artistic choice. Now that I think of Iceland, I realize that I most likely would never have become a photographer if it wasn't for him. After any time, however, my ambitions crossed the boundaries of this island and I felt the request to change. For now Berlin combines what I need: the proximity of Poland, the free and creative atmosphere and the constant stimulation to act. Berlin is liberating and crazy. I began to absorb his atmosphere and admit the rhythm in which I function as a fresh normality.
Artistic day in Berlin – what would it be like? Where to go, what to see, what to eat?
As far as food is concerned: eclairs in Canal, lunch in Sorrel, Bar average or Gazzo pizzeria, for natural wine I urge Le Balto or Motif Wein. Art is Gropius Bau, KW Institute of Contemporary Art and the full Linienstrasse with a mass of tiny private galleries.
What photograph exhibition or gallery/photo museum do you recommend?
The most interesting photograph gallery for me is C/O Berlin.
Photos of Olga Urbanek from the limited collection edition are available at: https://flowerhouse.com/?s=olga+urbanek.
We invitation you to the “Hiding Actions” exhibition by mid-July.
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