Top 5 profiles on Instagram with Polish architecture
The choice is absolutely subjective. It was not influenced by the number of followers or likes under pictures, but the consequence in showing Polish architecture from various perspectives. If you have not come across these accounts yet, we guarantee that the power of the frames and the images of Poland they present will amaze you.
Anna Jastrzębska
1. @hashtagalek: Wes Anderson of the Tricity
Aleksander Małachowski is our discovery from the past few weeks. His photographs have completely amazed us – and we are sure you that they will amaze you too, if of course you are not completely ignorant when it comes to aesthetics. If, like us, you adore the dreamy-sweet, oneiric poetics of “Grand Budapest” or “Moonrise kingdom” by Wes Anderson, launch your Instagram immediately: @hashtagalek is amazing!
The style of your photos in 3 words?
Minimalism, precision, perspective.
What does your best picture show?
Every photo I publish is for me the best in a way. I try to make the message in the photo clearly visible and the accuracy with which I took it.
Your favourite Polish city?
Three cities, or rather, Tricity.
What attracts you to it?
On the one hand, access to the s… yes, I know – the Gdańsk Bay, on the other, a lot of good architecture.
What turns you off?
The number of tourists during the season.
Where do you like to spend time then?
I try to spend as much time as possible by the s… the bay (laugh)
When photographing buildings, you think about…?
The effect that I’d like to achieve and postproduction.
When you take a good photo, you feel…?
Delight, happiness, will to take another, better photo. And the relief if it’s a job! (laugh)
Watch more: @hashtagalek
2. @patryk_wikalinski: If David Hockney visited Radom, his images would have looked exactly like that
These photographs are like David Hockney’s most outstanding achievements: they overpower with blocks of seemingly flat colours, masterful usage of perspective and flawless work with light. But that’s not it. It is clear from Patryk Wikaliński’s photos that the most photogenic city is… Radom. Seriously? Yes, definitely. Wikaliński brings out beauty that you would rather not expect from the mocked “rainbow” Radom blocks.
The style of your photos in 3 words?
Pop-art, minimalistic combination of symmetry, play of colour and shadow. I try to transform reality with a change of perspective in my photographs.
What does your best picture show?
Snow-white triangular balconies that seem to reach high up to the clouds. However, the blue sky sets a limit not to be crossed. The windows are dominated by the blue color, and the building itself seems overwhelmed. A large number of flats draws attention to various stories and experiences of people. There is warm colour, symmetry and an enormous scale. The scale of what is most important.
Your favourite Polish city?
I don’t think I could choose one. I have many favorite Polish cities. Each of them has a different atmosphere, which cannot be forged. I have a long list: Poznań, Cracow, Gdańsk or Wrocław. Each of them should be appreciated. But probably everyone identifies with the city in which s/he grew up. Radom and Warsaw are the closest to my heart. Okay! Let’s choose Radom. Hopefully I’ll be able to change the negative associations related to this city.
What attracts you to it?
I like the fact that there are many creative people who want to create something completely new in this city, despite vast adversities. They struggle with the stereotypes that burden Radom. They try to convince others that despite many mistakes, it is worth coming here. The citizens of Radom have often had it tough in life, but nonetheless, the city is developing and wants to be competitive. This is a big plus, because this development is felt here. From the artistic side, I am attracted by multicolour blocks, which are unique on a national scale. You can see them in my photos. Here, every housing estate is painted in a different pastel color. These blocks were my inspiration. They tell many stories. I wanted to show these places from a completely different side. I want to convince people that these constructions are unique and don’t have to have bad associations.
What turns you off?
It’s hard to talk about the downsides of your hometown. However, there is one in every city! Over the last years, Radom has changed beyond recognition. From the perspective of a person who often travels by car, I would say that it would be good to have more road repairs. From the artistic point of view, Radom must constantly increase its attractiveness through innovative projects. Sometimes I sense lack of openness to something completely new. I don’t know, perhaps it’s about making too safe decisions? It seems to me that young people often prefer to pursue their unusual ideas in other cities, because here they don’t get a chance and a platform for implementation.
Where do you like to spend time there?
You can find me at the surrounding housing projects. I devote a lot of time to photography and taking photos. I feel that it allows me to grow, so wherever there are colours, you will find me! When it comes to relax, I love to walk the Żeromski Street. During summertime life is buzzing on this street in Radom, and I enjoy the fact that more and more is happening in the city. Recently, I’ve also become a fan of hiking, so I like visiting the surrounding forests.
When photographing buildings, you think about…?
I’m constantly thinking about new ideas. Sometimes I spend hours in one place, approaching objects from various perspectives. All this is connected with the vision of what I want to later see in the photograph. I just think a lot in order to capture the place in the best possible way.
When you take a good photo, you feel…?
Satisfaction, fulfilment, wish to show the photo to others. I want to share my experiences. I pay attention to detail. Detail, although minimalistic, is often significant and meaningful.
Watch more: @patrykwikalinski
3. @piotrzemlak: Wrocław like from the frames of Urszula Antoniak
Have you seen Urszula Antoniak’s brilliant black and white film “Between Words”? Although the Instagram profile of Piotr Zemlak is dominated by colorful photos, you will catch many similarities. The photographs strike with sterility of frames and perfectly mastered skill of playing with geometry. Minimalist snapshots – mainly from Wroclaw (but not only) – will infatuate all those who have a soft spot for Lower Silesia and refined, groomed images.
The style of your photos in 3 words?
Symmetry, minimalism, perspective.
What does your best picture show?
I havent’ taken by best picture yet. (laugh)
Your favourite Polish city?
Wrocław.
What attracts you to it?
Diverse architecture.
What turns you off?
Traffic and moody shopgirls.
Where do you most like to spend time in Wrocław?
Basically everywhere.
When photographing buildings, you think about…?
…how to best capture their geometry.
When you take a good photo, you feel…?
…that the next one has to be even better.
Watch more: @piotrzemlak
4. @archi.grafia: Christopher Nolan the Poznań way
The snapshots by Jędrzej Franek in charge of the Instagram profile @archi.grafia go far beyond ordinary photography illustrating the beauty or ugliness of Polish cities. Franek plays with perspective, planes, color and climate, creating multi-layered images like from a film dream of Christopher Nolan. Something the fans of “Inception” would definitely appreciate – highly recommended!
The style of your photos in 3 words?
Uncanny architectural reality. Usually.
What does your best picture show?
I do not know because I cannot decide which one is the best. I prefer others to judge my photos, it is enough for me to be satisfied with the process of creating and implementing a concept. I believe that other people like the photos from the category of “magical modernism” bathed in clouds, such as the theme of the skyscraper from the Oreł biały estate in Poznań, repeated several times. Privately, the view from my kitchen window…
Your favourite Polish city?
My demand for Katowice and Wrocław is very insatiable. I hope that I will manage to finally sufficiently photograph them this year, in order to have material for creating further abstract interpretations. I am equally inspired by smaller towns where one can still encounter pristine modernism untouched by polystyrene. Bartek Dworski @leningrad is an expert and a constant supplier of items to my checklist. In fact, however, my favorite city is my hometown, Poznań. I am a homebody and I feel the most comfortable there.
What attracts you to these cities?
In Katowice and Wrocław, many pre-war buildings and building from the PRL period are very ambitious, with dramatic detail or an impressive construction. You won’t find any pre-war icons, such as the Centennial Hall or the Silesian skyscraper in Poznań. The post-war period is, apart from a few notable exceptions, a residential mediocrity, which, however, is a creative training ground for me.
What turns you off?
I think that in cities, only the people, their stupidity, aggression and lack of responsibility may be a turn off. The people build and develop cities, but they also destroy and disrupt them.
Where do you most like to spend time in your favourite cities?
Doesn’t matter where. What matters is that while taking photos, drinking coffee or having a nice meal. (laugh)
When photographing buildings, you think about…?
How to bring out, emphasise and exaggerate in them what is invisible, frightening or beautiful. The goal is to simultaneously implement and include all three visions.
When you take a good photo, you feel…?
A relief. That I am still developing, even if slowly, and that my imagination is still working.
Watch more: @archi.grafia
5. @thenart: Warsaw’s Richard Linklater
“Before sunset”. The title of Linklater’s classic film could have served as the title for many photos taken by Adam Then, the author of the profile @thenart. Then brilliantly portrays his beloved Warsaw in the rays of the sun hiding slowly behind the horizon. Of course, not only, but these frames touched us the most.
The style of your photos in 3 words?
Architecture, street, minimalism.
What does your best picture show?
My favourite picture portrays the Śląsko-Dąbrowski bridge and captures a tramway and a cyclist. Everything against a white background creating a simple and minimalist atmosphere.
Your favourite Polish city?
Warsaw, obviously.
What attracts you to it?
Architecture, life in abundance in the city.
What turns you off?
People’s indifference to their surroundings.
Where do you most like to spend time in Warsaw?
I like to walk around all sorts of staircases and buildings searching for new frames.
When photographing buildings, you think about…?
How to present an interesting and original point of view.
When you take a good photo, you feel…?
Satisfied with the effect, but I also try to assess if I am making progress.