“I applied for Joya: AiR two years before my actual arrival. Since day one of my stay I decided to move away from my initial plan as I felt that the idea of “a plan” - something controlled, something rigid cannot be applied to a space such as Joya: AiR. I was focusing on what the surroundings can offer - the changing light, the sandy hues of the sky which came round with a strong wind, the heat I haven’t felt before and the feeling of an endless space - horizontally and vertically. The feelings were repetitive but different each time. I didn’t feel like I had to offer anything back - I could just observe, ground myself and let some air inside my head. I should probably write more on the prints I’ve done there, the photographs I took, but it’s of less importance. What I learned from Joya: AiR and Vélez Bianco is that I need a slow pace in my work and a lot of space where the air and ideas can mix without any pressure on the outcome. I will definitely keep it to myself and experiment and stop for a moment and experiment and stop for a moment and experiment and stop for a moment”. 

Monika Orpik

Monika Orpik

Suwałki Poland

2016 - BA (Hons) Photography at London College of Communication

Publications:
2018 : Blue Zone
2017: Certa Incerta

Solo shows :
2018 : What happens when the guns fall silent, Artists Crossing, Prague, Czech Republic
2018 : CERTA INCERTA, Espacio Fidencia, Mexico City, Mexico
2016 : baptism , Pracowania Duży Pokój, Warsaw, Poland

Group shows:
2018 : What happens when the guns fall silent, Recording Changes : Balkan Spatial Perspective, Ferrara, Italy
2017 Rosa & Curtis , Inter Alia, Chelsea College of Arts, London, UK
2017 barzakh , International Photography Festival : Analog Mania, Timișoara, Romania
2017 : Rosa & Curtis , Panta Rhei , Total Refershment Centre , London, UK
2017 : barzakh , Festiwal Przenikania , Officyna Art & Design, Warsaw, Poland