The Radical Power of Optimism

My triptych The Radical Power of Optimism was an important turning point for me on the path to a higher material consciousness. Already at the stage of taking photographs I made a decision to use three different analogue films: colour negative, black and white negative and colour negative with a specific purple gradient. The self-portraits that were created within the process were then printed on Japanese paper Awagami Kozo. It is natural though exceptionally strong yet pliable and relevantly thin paper. And it was precisely these qualities that allowed me to get involved in its materiality for longer. I started to fold and bend it, distorting my own image in the process.The lengthy process of repair and care once again had a strengthening and self-empowering effect. The regular rhythm of the thread in a way overshadowed the documentary character of photographs, marking every single moment with a sign. The errors that occur in the form correspond to particular moments of everyday life that took place simultaneously with my work. Because of its length, the process of working with thread allowed me to learn to accept the unpredictable. I made myself stronger – metaphorically and literally – and staying in the close contact with the material brought me closer to the concepts of craftsmanship and workmanship.