The subject is childish

Supervisor:
Professor Rosław Szaybo

Studio of Applied Photography

>Natalia Plewa

I see artistic work as a gradual forging of an own path, by learning to think, look and search for solutions that are universal, yet not obvious. I try to use positive associations and a simple form. I am inspired by artists who reach particular concepts in a gradual manner. I admire ideas which do not result from coincidence.

>Professor Rosław Szaybo

I have run the Studio of Applied Photography in the MFA programme for a number of years, focusing on critical thinking and intellectual problem-solving for given assignments – often challenging ones. Students and degree candidates take photographs of high artistic value, which can be used in their future careers as commercial artists (movie poster, album cover, illustration, etc.). These assignments can only be realised when students, in addition to pressing the shutter button, engage in creative thinking, far removed from any “lucky” coincidence. We let our students decide whether they are going to work in black-and-white or colour photography, we also allow full discretion in relation to the use of traditional digital photography and all the technological opportunities provided by state of the art computer software for digital image processing. Thus we only expect the final outcome – that is all that matters.
Natalia Plewa studied at my studio (where I am assisted by Dr Katarzyna Stanny) in the years 2009–2012; she earned her MFA degree with the Rector’s award for merit. This degree piece results from talent, hard work and the personality of the degree candidate but also from the method of instruction, which led to well-deserved success. Natalia was an exemplary student, distinguished by traits of character, which earned her everyone’s respect and affection. She is modest, positive, helpful, with a charm and gentle sense of humour, and her degree piece is an exposition of Natalia’s way of thinking and all the qualities mentioned above.
When Natalia commenced the assignment, she brought small drawings – ideas for photographs she intended to take, and these turned into photographs well worth looking at.
Her degree piece titled The subject is childish is a nostalgic but also charming and lyrical tale about a happy childhood, told in a photographically consistent and artistically mature way. It is supported with tiny drawings, which we presented next to the awarded pieces as an integral and important element of the degree project. Entering your happy adulthood, Natalia, MFA – please continue thinking, photographing, creating. I wish you good luck!