May, 23rd, 2012

Ritual Analogue | Paulina Surys by Francesca Marotta

I met Paulina Surys a couple of years ago via social networking and we realised we actually lived 5 mins walk from each other’s. I have had the great honour to shoot with her, her work is so full of emotions; there are no words that can explain on how great she is…

/. When did you start pho tography? And fashion pho tography?

 I took my first pho tographs while studying Fine Art in Pol and. I was working on a screen printing project, combining painting and pho tography, and so took some lessons in using the darkroom. The possibilities I discovered within eventually over took my passion for painting, which till that point had been the main focus of my studies. At this time, however, I was unable to fully develop as a pho tographer due to the high cost of the required materials and equipment in my country; I would shoot occasionally, purely art pho tography. I started shooting fashion just over a year ago, though I began with little intention of becoming a fashion pho tographer. This was born out of an obsession with beautiful couture garments and the desire to involve pieces I liked within pho tographic compositions. I find such special items of clothing inspiring and carefully study their shapes and fabrics before shooting to ensure I make the most out of them. 

//. How did it all start to shoot the way you do?

 The pho tography assistant in my university was a real Master of alternative techniques, especially collodion (shooting on glass, which I am really in to and very soon you will be able to see results of my recent research). Also, in my family we had quite a collection of pho tographs of my ances tors, dating back to the 19th century, some of them h and coloured. I would spend hours browsing them as a child , I know it may sound weird but going through the family albums and art albums was one of my favourite activities as a child. My favourite artists those days were Jan Saudek (h and coloured pho tographs) and Hieronymus Bosch.
Also, analogue pho tography has an organic touch to it. It is closer to painting. Every single print is individual and impossible to copy. Developing images in the darkroom can feel like a very special ritual process. 

http://www.paulinasurys.co.uk | @paulinasurys 

http://www.francescamarotta.com | @fmarotta

 

////. This is a very old way of processing and painting the pho tos and many people are trying the same technique but haven’t mastered it like you have. Do you think that having an artistic background has helped? Why?

Yes, of course! I think that sense of composition which can be brought out by using particular colours comes straight from my fine art background. also, I mix the colour palette myself using only the basic hues. A good knowledge of chemistry was a great help here as well! Please, keep in mind that I am mainly painting using RAW chemicals. I also mix my own alchemical secret recipes! 

/////. Are you obsessed with death? Some of your shots do bring this out, by the way the models are lying or the look in to their eyes… Am I correct?

 It is quite a difficult question for me. As a little child I discovered a series of pho tographs of dead children in coffins in our family album – it was an old cus tom in my country to pho tograph dead relatives. As you may guess, the coffin is always open during the ceremony. I remember the shock I felt when i saw my beloved gr andfather, dead when I was merely 13years old. He was like a father to me. Also, my father died 4 years ago, it was the main reason why I came to UK. This might have had a great impact on a few projects I have created. But to be honest I am more concerned with capturing images of life than death. The look in models’ eyes I aim to achieve is that of otherworldliness, eyes that have seen beyond… 

 

//////. Are you planning any book? Exhibition? Can we buy your prints?

Yes, I am planning an exhibition for autumn or winter and a bigger one in late spring. Hopefully the latter one will be connected with launching a small album.
As for the prints…I currently only sell the originals to collec tors but you can buy the limited reproductions prints on my website from next week! 

PAULINA SURYS BY FRANCESCA MAROTTA 

http://www.paulinasurys.co.uk | @paulinasurys 

http://www.francescamarotta.com | @fmarotta