November of memory: Poland remembers those who ... - Krakow Post

10 The Krakow Post
K R A K O W
NOVEMBER 1-NOVEMBER 7, 2007
“Indian Puzzles” pieces together colorful image of India
Adelina Krupski
Photography.
Though having previously exhibited
other works in Warsaw and the Photography
Festival in Lodz, this is her first individual,
public exhibit.
The main space of the Pauza Club, facing
ul. Florianska, holds some of the works, displayed
in a large format. In addition, a separate
room contains the whole twenty-piece
collection lined up, with some of the main
works repeated in a smaller version.
Unfortunately, not all of the photographs
Rzymanek would have liked to share are included
in the exhibit. In fact, it could be said
that there are missing pieces to the puzzle.
Nevertheless, the selection successfully reflects
the vision and approach of the artist,
through astonishing, vivid scenes, conveying
a blend of visual, sensory and spiritual
elements.
For more information, contact or visit:
Pauza
ul. Florianska 18/3 – 1st floor
pauza@pauza.pl
www.pauza.pl
Magdalena Rzymanek, holding the Holga camera, with which she traveled to India and photographed the scenes comprising “Indian Puzzles.”
Adelina Krupski
Staff Journalist
The exhibit titled “Indian Puzzles,” made
up of a series of color photographs taken by
Magdalena Rzymanek during her travels
throughout India last year, is currently on
display at the Pauza Club in Krakow, continuing
until Nov. 30.
Rzymanek, a photographer originating
from the Silesia region in Poland, traveled to
India in December 2006 with the aim of photographing
the country in a way that would
capture its overwhelming sense of variety,
uncertainty, and contrast. She accomplished
this, using a Holga, a cheaply manufactured,
medium-format, 120-film toy camera that
often causes distorting effects, such as light
leaks and blur.
As a result, the photographs come across
as obscure and dreamlike, while also communicating
liveliness through wonderfully
vibrant colors. These effects, states Rzymanek,
“are part of the camera’s charm.”
While the photographer does, for the most
part, retain control over the camera, another
exciting peculiarity of the Holga is the way
in which the final outcome remains unpredictable.
Developed commercially and transferred
onto computer solely for printing purposes,
the photographs are presented in their natural
state, free of any further manipulation.
Rzymanek says that, on her first trip to India
three years ago, she used a digital camera
and found it did not suit the project, as it
failed to meet the desired effect and the photographs
did not have the right impact.
The pieces comprising the collection
are unique, not only for their angle, diversity
and style, but also for the technique by
which they are created. “When taking these
photographs,” says Rzymanek, “I was led
by my emotions.” Consequently, the photographs
depict a variety of subject matters,
such as people, places, architecture, and
animals, encountered in the different areas
of Rzymanek visited, namely the cities of
Delhi, Agra, Goa, Jodhpur, Varanasi, Hyderabad
and Mysore.
According to Rzymanek, “nothing is for
certain in India, either visually or even in the
mentality of the people – everything is there,
tangled together.” She mentions the example
of the gap between wealth and poverty.
“The Taj Mahal, for instance, enormous and
magical, makes an unbelievable impression,
though just outside those walls, it’s filled
with poverty – India is a very contrasting
country.”
Originally having studied biology, Rzymanek
started pursuing photography during
her second year in college, a passion which
led her to enroll in the Warsaw School of
Photos at the exhibit.
“Raz, Dwa, Trzy”
krakowpost.com
Krzysztof Skonieczn
Staff Journalist
This week will be a busy one for the Rotunda Community
Center, which will be hosting two musical performances
by two major Polish bands.
On Sunday, Nov. 4, the club will host the band, Kult.
Wednesday, Nov. 7 will feature a musical performance by
Raz, Dwa, Trzy.
Regardless of the important role Polish lyrics may
play in their songs, both of the groups are, music-wise,
recommendable even for those who are not fluent in the
language.
When, in 1982, vocalist Kazik Staszewski and his
companions changed the name of their band, ‘Novelty
Poland’ to ‘Kult’, they must have done it with a kind of
prophetic vision.
For the past 25 years, the group has become one of
Poland’s “cult bands.”
Deriving from punk rock, the group mixes it’s sounds
with new wave, rock, jazz and traditional Polish balladsall
paired with Staszewski’s charismatic voice and somewhat
controversial personality.
One of the most notorious details about the band is
the unique atmosphere they create during their long and
intense performances: a sense of youthful rebelliousness
that doesn’t seem to grow old, despite the age of the musicians.
Almost ten years junior of ‘Kult’, ‘Raz, Dwa, Trzy’
seems to present a paradoxically higher level of maturity
– if measured by the level of composure.
Their musical style oscillates between rock and smooth
jazz, and the lyrics have the form of contemporary poetry,
to which the soft, pleasing voice of front man Adam
Nowak fits perfectly.
Their interesting and witty songs address subjects of
love and religion. Recently, the band has become increasingly
interested in presenting their own versions of songs
written by famous Polish poets.
In 2002 they recorded an album filled with songs of
Agnieszka Osiecka, for the fifth anniversary of the poet’s
death. Their latest album is called “Młynarski,” the name
of the poet whose songs they are covering.
Even though the pieces are not the group’s original
creations, their renditions offers a fresh look, which is
certainly worth listening to.