LUKASZ WIERZBOWSKI
Five years ago, Polish Psychology student Lukasz Wierzbowski was time-rich and bored. Knowing that only the boring are truly ever bored, Wierzbowski set out on an endeavour to do something creative that would give him instant joy. And so from boredom was born a new identity and fervent passion - Photography. Since then, Wierzbowski has been featured in such publications as Dazed Digital, Frankie and Neon and boasts high profile clients Urban Outfitters, Pull & Bear and Penguin Books not to mention numerous gallery showcases and his new printed photography book Sequin Covered Swans.
Achievements aside, it’s not hard to understand the appeal. Wierzbowski has a unique talent for capturing a wide array of raw human emotions not usually portrayed in photography. A combination of quirky, unusual and sometimes awkward poses as well as unique settings and props would easily seem staged and insincere when employed by other photographers. After all, it’s one thing to take photographs which employ these unusual themes, and it’s another to make your audience truly believe them. But there is never any doubt when viewing Wierzbowski’s images that these are the real deal. A girl headbanging over a grapefruit, conversations with dinosaurs, intimate relationships with statues, ritualistic environment interactions, gravity defying hair and the tangle of subjects with everyday objects. However seemingly absurd the environment and interaction may seem, the deep conviction emanating from every single image wrenches out an unexpected emotion and makes you feel as though you are spying on a private moment rather than looking at a preconceived image. Wierzbowski describes his work as “The lovedance of human, and it’s environment.” I couldn’t agree more.
Perhaps Wierzbowski’s experience dabbling with the human psyche has given him an unmatched edge when it comes to the
portrayal of real human beings. He explains that the knowledge gained through his psychology studies does help him to communicate and get the right connection with his models. But it’s much more than an education related influence. It would foolish to ignore other factors, the most significant of these being his native country. Snow covered fields, 70’s style interiors, and wooden panelling all feature heavily in Wierzbowski’s photography lending a nostalgic atmosphere through their incredible colour combinations and unusual patterns. “[growing up in Poland] was a total experience. Watching MTV in a room totally covered in wooden panels, with colour carpet and even more colourful sofa. It seems a little surreal from a perspective. I guess I just couldn’t imagine living anywhere else” explains Wierzbowski. “The memory of these days lives in my imagination, lazy summer days spent at picking berries in the woods or my grandma’s yellow curtains.”
Another aspect which contributes to the raw, unedited quality of Wierzbowski’s work is his employment of film over digital technology. He explains his love of film as “The mystery of the final result. Digital brings results so fast that you don’t have the time to process it. Using analog makes you more selective. You wait for the perfect moment instead of pressing the shutter each second as it often happens with digital. The imperfection of the captured moment is much more interesting.” This process of waiting for the perfect moment is possibly what gives Wierzbowski’s work such an intimate and personal vibe. “Picking the moment that just feels right is super exciting. I encourage my models to let loose and forget about any kind of posing. I want the moment to be real and not recreated.” Whilst finding the right moment is just one element of the process, choosing the right location is just as important and has led to some interesting and unexpected events for Wierzbowski such as getting lost in the middle of a forest, finding abandoned buildings and getting locked out on a dizzying rooftop. It’s the excitement of never truly knowing what the end result of a shoot will be that creates such a rush for Wierzbowski who injects this intense energy into every shot.
Currently working on a series of fashion and personal projects as well as basking in the afterglow of his book release, it’s all guns blazing for Wierzbowski. And while it’s all a matter of following his attuned instincts, the only thing Wierzbowski must remember is to bring the film and the rest will take care of itself. When asked what he believes makes a photograph truly great, Wierzbowski replies “If it sticks to our minds for more than a while, it means the photo is good. Our everyday life is filled with images, and after a while we seem to remember only the ones that somehow get under our skin for some reason.” With striking human resonance and an ingrained sense of truth, I don’t believe we will be forgetting Lukasz Wierzbowski’s photographs for some time to come.
All images courtesy of Lukas Wierbowski
Published in PITCH Zine Issue# 17, May 2013