For her latest series, titled 'FROWST,' photographer Joanna Piotrowska seeks to display the decidedly darker underbelly of the domestic sphere. Far from sunshine and butterflies, family life has the capacity to be perverse, distressing and often burdensome. Her compositions feature family members in strange, awkward positions, often lying across each other's bodies in a way that that imbues each black-and-white image with a quiet, unsettling air.
The fact that the images feel "vaguely incestuous" is no accident, as Piotrowska is intentionally exploring how seemingly ambiguous interactions can have double-meanings that cause psychological discomfort. Hesitancy or uncertainty can ignite a confusion; perhaps you can't point out the violent or offending article in the photo, but you're still left with an underlying unease. With her photography, she hopes to encourage people to take a second look at things that, at first glance, may seem innocuous.
Her series will be shown at the Emotional Resources exhibition at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art.
Sinister Family Portraits
Joanna Piotrowska Examines the Darker Side of Domestic Life
Trend Themes
1. Darker Domestic Life - Exploring the unsettling and perverse aspects of family life through photography.
2. Ambiguous Interactions - Examining how seemingly innocent interactions can have double meanings that cause psychological discomfort.
3. Second Glance - Encouraging viewers to take a deeper look at seemingly innocuous things.
Industry Implications
1. Photography - Opportunity for photographers to push the boundaries of traditional family portraits and explore the darker side of domestic life.
2. Contemporary Art - Creating exhibitions that challenge conventional notions of family and provoke psychological discomfort.
3. Psychological Studies - Investigating the impact of ambiguous interactions and their potential to create underlying unease.