Joanna Piotrowska's untitled black and white photograph features two portraits facing each other, emphasizing the contrast and texture of hair and skin through subtle lighting. The intimate close-ups capture a moment of interaction or reflection, exploring themes of identity and connection. Her use of staged composition draws attention to the psychological interplay between the figures, highlighting human relationships and tensions. This piece reflects Piotrowska’s focus on the intricacies of social interactions and emotional expression within personal and societal frameworks. ...
In her staged photos and videos, Joanna Piotrowska focuses on exploring human relationships and their bodily expression. She looks at characters entangled in the context of social institutions, struggling with manifestations of power, emotional dependencies and the violent element of human nature. She is interested in the family, security, home and homelessness, the position of a woman and the psychology and politics of girl rebellion, as well as the human need to control and dominate animals. Her black and white, handmade, gelatin silver prints and videos on 16 mm tape are more of a record of performance or spectacle than a documentary. ...
The gallery was founded in October 2023 with a space on the first floor of 1A Old Nichol Street, a former industrial building around the corner from Arnold Circus, East London. The gallery´s focus is to present ambitious exhibitions of emerging and mid-career artists, many of
whom have not yet been exhibited in the UK, alongside a program of live events related to the exhibitions, and artists publications. Ilenia is a member of the Gallery Climate Coalition. ...
