Chlorophyll is photosensitive. Otherwise, it would not keep the plant alive. The same goes for photography. Without the light it could not feed the memory.
Reminiscences is a project based on cyanotype. First four works in this cycle are a kind of installation –photographs acquired from family album of the author of the series , mounted on the cyanotype on canvas (60x100cm). They tell the story of the artist's grandmother, which loved to sew and embroider. Usage of a fabric seemed most relevant. Another five works are cyanotypes on watercolor paper (50x80cm). The author recalls how, together with her mother, she prepared paper flowers for All Saints, which she dipped in hot wax. House filled with a scent of a candle on that occasion. Repeating a gesture from her childhood,she exposed the plants directly on the paper and then poured wax on them. She wanted to enclose in that story her mother and grandmother, who passed away shortly after giving birth to her daughter. All that’s left after her are the photographs and tablecloths with beautiful embroidery. Her mom never met her.
Iwona Germanek graduated from fotoedukacja in Katowice and AFA School of Photography in Wrocław. Member of the Society of Polish Photography Artists (ZPAF). Currently, studying at the Silesian University of Opava, as well as teaching in MDK Łaziska Górne, where the Alternative Photography studio was created on her initiative. She led workshops in TIF Centre in Wrocław (collodion process) as well as in Basic Vocational School in Racibórz (collodion process, cyanotype). Participant of many exhibitions, i.e. Festival of alternative and old photography techniques.