Welcome to the beguiling realm of Silesia, Poland, as I embark upon a profound exploration of my cherished homeland, its sprawling cityscapes, and the enigmatic environs that envelop it. "Before & After" unveils itself as a tapestry of photographs, captured between 2002 and 2006, where monochromatic imagery bears witness to the lives of individuals amid the tide of economic and societal metamorphosis. This project also encompasses an array of color photographs, seized on a singular occasion in 2018, which unveils the sacred landmarks of my childhood.
The ethereal realm of black and white frames encapsulates the nascent stages of my photographic voyage. Days of yore were spent traversing the Silesian urban sprawl, exploring the labyrinthine streets that intertwined with the very tapestry of my being, ever in pursuit of subjects that bore witness to the subtleties of everyday existence. Thus, this project materializes as a profound testament to the ephemeral nuances that dance through the chronicles of ordinary life.
Conversely, the vibrant strokes of color paint an alternative portrait, captured during my reverent return to Silesia, a land that I no longer call home but which forever resonates within my spirit—a pulsating connection to the land, its culture, and the souls who inhabit it. These very personal images offer a veritable gateway to the formative sanctuaries of my youth—a tender homage to the abode that cradled my earliest days, the hallowed grounds of my kindergarten, and the pathway where I first strode alongside a loyal companion, my beloved dog.
In its entirety, "Before & After" unfurls as a personal odyssey—a visual sojourn that unravels the sacred bond to my roots and recollections of a place ever-receding, dissolving further with the passage of each day. As you peruse these images, the veil of time shall be lifted, transporting you to a world simultaneously familiar and distant, evoking a symphony of nostalgia and haunting remembrance. I extend an invitation to you, dear viewer, to accompany me upon this deeply personal photographic pilgrimage through the storied landscapes of Silesia, Poland, where echoes of the past intermingle with the specters of the present.
