Portrait nominee

Fencer during the competition. Warsaw. Poland

Photographs by Anna Włoch insightfully combine the elements that are usually in conflict when it comes to the art of photography : the inexhaustible energy and sense of adventure, almost bordering on bravado (she has recently worked in Antarctica, Taiwan, Costa Rica, USA, Africa and God knows where else; as and artist adhering to a number of strict criteria, she tends to remain in the shadow rather than put herself in the spotlight), with a sensibility that is almost poetic – though, thankfully, never ethereal or excessively romanticized – in addition to the most demanding technical requirements.
Ms Włoch has a keen eye without it that which we see in the overflowing medium of snapshots and images would be alternately a worthwhile and less-than-worthwhile medley – not an aesthetic experience. Hers are insightful, beatiful and thought-provoking photographs. The quality of her portraits – of Czesław Miłosz and Pina Bausch, just to mention a few – simply dazzles. Her modesty and brilliant, synthetic ability to capture what is there in order to make it better and more profound is, indeed, most commendable. • Andrzej Żuławski •