In our latest artist feature, we bring you the work of Wojciech Karliński, Polish photographer whose work has appeared on the covers of bestselling books. In his “Long-lasting Transition State” photo project, the artist highlights the reality of Polish public transportation during a pandemic. We love this project because of the simplicity, the real-world authenticity of the imagery, and the beautiful tones used in the images.
According to the artist: “In Poland, since fall of communism in 1989, polish public transport transformation has continued. The regression and progress in the topic are alternating. I wanted to show how hard is it is to travel when you don’t have a car and when your life status is lower. I done my project in the pandemic period, which shows how traveling is much harder than before. I took all photos in the Polish province. I skip all big cities because mass communication there is better and much different, then in small cities. I was doing the project for a year, all pictures was done by small camera Ricoch GRIII. It looks like toy who gave freedom of creation and people do not know that is professional camera. At first I was thought, that the project will be black and white, but during the work i saw that color i necessary. The color put that special meaning and atmosphere in photos.”
The images shown here are part of the “Long- Therm Transition” series. Here You can see all project: https://dlugotrwalystan.pl
- Official website: www.karlinskifoto.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wojciech.karlinski
Select Images of from “Long-lasting Transition State” by Wojciech Karliński
01-02 Aleksandrów Kujawski, Train station. February 2021. It was important border train station between Russian Empire and Germany until the outbreak of I World War. Today a provincial railway station. In constant renovation since 2008.
stacja pkp
stacja pkp
03-04 Grudziądz, train station. February 2021.The train station was shrill cold. It was planned to demolish but now it is on the list of monuments.
05 Opole. Train station Opole Main. March 2021. Very bussy station, but in lockdown period empty
06 Opole. Train station, Opole Main. March 2021. St. Katarzyna, the patron of railwaymen on platform 2.
07 Otmuchów, march 2021. An elderly woman, who is standing back, came here from Nysa to vaccinate against Covid-19, she received such a referral. She is terrified. He doesn’t know how and when he’ll come back. From the information about departures at the stop, nothing comes to her. Because of pandemic moust of the busses were cancel.
08 Olkusz, train station. November 2021
09 Okonek,the train station. January 2022. In the building was dark and sharply could. Waiting outside on the platform, was better option.
010 Smołdzęcino, Bus stop. January 2022
Q: What is your next project?
A: Now I’m working on new project “Big Dream in Small Towns”. I want show how residential infrastructure from communism period was adapted to the present conditions. In Poland and Eastern Europe concept of apartment blocks showed higher social status in comunism. Area of blocks were pride of small towns and very ofen presented on postcard to show how great life is when You live there.
