Works created mostly with the camera obscura technique, which spontaneously introduces an air of the past. The photographed people, interiors (strictly related to the village I come from), in relation to the titles of the works, are a return to the times of childhood they’re reminiscences of the past. Due to the characteristic of the technique used, i.e. softness, mild contrast, blur, I decided to make a free creation, resulting in works of more painterly expression. (…) I mix contexts and symbols, introduce all kinds of understatements, constructing an atmosphere of dream and mystery images of the village I remembered as a little girl. I present a world that can only be seen in imagination. In this sense my paintings are a peculiar impression. My goal was to create my own subjective images, where I tried to comment upon the world. In my activities I strive to determine the condition of a human being in their „backwater”, pointing to such issues as loneliness, old age or alienation. First of all, the photographs are portraits of individuals and their psychological condition. They’re to the same extent images of living in a country and a lyrical documentary of the present times. A combination of photo recording with irrationality. The presented apartments and everyday objects are legitimate elements of a photograph (…) Recording over time (the longest exposure was 1.5 h) is „happening” within a particular concept. During exposure something unreal, metaphysical is going on. Movement is recorded, shadows change, any and all vibrations are captured. The recorded image is moving it develops over time, even though often it’s impossible to notice with the naked eye. (…) The formal solutions I used, such as drawing on photography, were initially supposed to add to the stylistics of ageing to imitate folds and scratches. (…) Free manipulation with stylistic means helped me create images resembling dreams and memories of years gone by, which naturally get blurred and distorted exaggerated. This is a combination of manipulation and subjective perception of the world. (Natalia Karłowska)

Natalia Karłowska was born in 1983 in Chełmno. In 1998-2003 she attended the State High School of Fine Arts in Bydgoszcz, and then in the years 2003-2008 she continued her artistic education at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Mikołaj Kopernik University in Torun (artistic education, intermedia art, graduation work under Prof. Witold Chmielewski). In 2001, she worked on the nativity scenes for Bydgoszcz. She participated in the sculpture competitions in Myślęcinek, Zielonka, Wikno. Ocassionally, she worked in the ceramics workshop of Alicja Bogacka (2005-2008) and the stained glass workshop of Witold Kaźmierczak (2007). Took part in organisation of and taught ceramics lessons as a part of the Science and Art Festival (2006/2007). She co-designed and made costumes and stage design for the 3rd Nativity Play with Light for the Torun Theatrical Group Efata (2008). Since 2008, she’s been creating her own ceramics and dolls. In 2009, she was on a traineeship in the „Baj Pomorski” puppet theatre, then started working in the theatre’s art room. Since 2009, she’s been also working as a remote graphic designer for a PR agency „Goldendorf”. W 2009- Debut: Presentation of her diploma work in pinhole photography, CSW Toruń. Awards and grants: 1st place in the „Work of the Year” competition organised by the State High School of Fine Arts; grant of the Marshall of the Kujawsko-Pomorski District for outstanding achievements in the academic year 2007/2008.

opening of the exhibition: 01.07.2010, 17.00 / Brda Gallery, Dworcowa 94/