This project was made in 2018.
Under the watchful eye of Dr. Kamila Kobierzynska in the Photography Workshop of the Zamek Cultural Center in Poznan.
This was my first photo project in a serious way.
It would seem that the place I chose to photograph has nothing to offer. What a wrong assumption!
Rataje is Poznan’s (city in Poland) post-communist housing estate built of concrete blocks.
I created a self-publishing photography book.
The book was dedicated to show the beauty of the unappreciated architecture in this small scale format of concrete blocks deep in West-Central Europe.
These are the blocks that most of us encounter on a daily basis. Even though they look plain, they have a particular texture and texture that creates a unique aesthetic.
Focusing on the details of the buildings, the book reveals the stories of the forgotten materials, and people’s lives for whom these houses become home.
But that’s not everything. I also wanted to show that this kind of architecture can inspire creativity and contemplation. I look for the beauty in them, even the imperfection and cracks that appear with time. I believe this is what makes them so special.
It was a great opportunity for me to explore this lesser-known territory. This project allowed me to document this neglected and underrated part of Central Europe, captured through my lens and creatively displayed in a small format of concrete blocks.
These are the blocks that most of us encounter on a daily basis. Even though they look plain, they have a particular texture and texture that creates a unique aesthetic.
Focusing on the details of the buildings, the book reveals the stories of the forgotten materials, and people’s lives for whom these houses become home.
But that’s not everything. I also wanted to show that this kind of architecture can inspire creativity and contemplation. I look for the beauty in them, even the imperfection and cracks that appear with time. I believe this is what makes them so special.
It was a great opportunity for me to explore this lesser-known territory. This project allowed me to document this neglected and underrated part of Central Europe, captured through my lens and creatively displayed in a small format of concrete blocks.
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Daria Świerblewska 