Cezary Rucki

About

Cezary Rucki was born in 1994 in Szczecin, currently lives in Poland

For over 10 years, his main medium of work has been photography. He started as a portrait photographer which is still the core of his practice. He is a co-creator of covers for literary and music publications. He was also involved in artistic direction and directing music videos. His works have been published in many magazines and have also taken part in individual and group exhibitions.

In his works, he combines in-depth observation of reality with attempts to present what is difficult to articulate visually – such as the mental problems of an individual, which are the main theme of most of his works. Its aim is to try to answer questions about the medium as such – its limitations, possibilities of expanding and polemics with it in both practical and intellectual dimensions, using various techniques, such as post-production and physical transformations, gifs or montages or installations.

I’ve started working with images as a photographer. At this point, I’m not sure that that’s the best word that describes me. 

Still, photographic image is a core of my practice. But now, rather than treating it as an outcome, it’s just begging. I’m using it as a canvas. I tear it apart. Construct it into the sculpture. Use as an excuse for a performative process. Even when I’m not using pictures at all, only sounds or olfactory experiences, it’s made through the lens.

The most interesting part is blurring the borders. Floating between mediums, merging them, testing their limits. Checking if they can support each other or destroy their properties. 

But all of those things would be just masturbatory acts without the essence. I’m trying to use those tools to tell the stories.  The most intimate, vulnerable, carnal ones. I’m almost always naked – physically and emotionally. Between thinking and feeling about the things that are inexplicable with words – cravings, longings, impressions, moments, memories, pain, and pleasure. Looking up at great masters who accomplish those things with completely different tools – Peter Hujar, Francis Bacon, Egon Schiele, Karol Szymanowski, or Wolfgang Tillmans. 

Every day I’m trying to push the limits a bit more in the neverending process of work.

instagram: @cezary.rucki