Imagine that after death you will become a tree, part of the forest, unlimited and free energy. A vibrant monument will grow on you.
Eternal U is a story about the so-called good death and eternity," says the author of the project. - Through photographs of forests, natural cemeteries where the dead are buried in biodegradable urns or coffins marked only with a pre-selected tree, I show a certain way of thinking of us as a code, an immortal chain of some larger universe. While we are alive, we all draw from it, only to give it a part of ourselves later.
The Large Room Gallery will turn into a kind of contemplative space, arranged so that the viewer can feel inner peace, accept his own mortality and dispersion in nature. On the walls of the gallery, large-format photographs taken by Humka at natural burial sites will hang just above the ground. A permanent element of the exhibition will also be music inspired by these photos, composed by Szymon Wojcik. Opening Eternal U will be combined with the launch of Hubert Humka's latest book under the same title. Designed by Aneta Kowalczyk and published by BLOW UP PRESS, the book was created in the spirit of sustainability, respect for the world and the surrounding nature, on ecological papers made from recycled pulp. Its main axis are photographs of the forest, accompanied by negative modifications and embossed text about passing away. The graphic treatments used symbolize the perception of the world from the other side and the trace we leave behind. - This is my third book, with which I close the trilogy of death," says Hubert Humka. - In the project and the book Evil Man I showed the victims of homicide and suicide. W Death Landscapes I talked about landscapes tainted by trauma and death. In turn Eternal U In my opinion, it brings peace of mind, tames death, shows its completely different face.
Eternal U is the latest project by Hubert Humka, a visual artist with a background in photography, a graduate and lecturer at the Department of Photography at the Film School in Lodz. In his work, he focuses on the human being, touching on themes of death, love, evil or divinity. Humka has shown his works in exhibitions in Poland and abroad. He is the author of acclaimed books: Evil Man (Publishing House of the Film School in Łódź, Łódź 2015) and Death Landscapes (BLOW UP PRESS, Warsaw, 2018), which was nominated, among other things: for the French Prix Bob Calle du livre d'artiste. Curator of many national and international exhibitions of photography students of the Film School in Lodz. More information: https://huberthumka.com/
The opening and premiere of the book "Eternal U" will take place on September 16 at 7:00 pm at the Duży Pokój Gallery at 4/6 Warecka Street (corner of Winnie the Pooh) in Warsaw. The exhibition will be open until November 12, 2023.
Exhibition Eternal U is part of the Picture Doc Foundation's ongoing SPLOT program. The project Intertwined exhibition series - photography in the face of contemporary challenges is financed by the City of Warsaw.
Hubert Humka, a visual artist with a background in photography, a graduate and lecturer at the Department of Photography at the Film School in Lodz. In his work he focuses on man, touching on themes of death, love, evil or divinity. He has shown his works in exhibitions in Poland and abroad. Among others in: Contemporary Museum in Wroclaw, Leica 6X7 Gallery in Warsaw, State Art Gallery in Sopot, Maison de la Photographie in Lille, Claude Samuel Gallery in Paris and at international photography festivals, including: Les Rencontres d'Arles (France), Transphotographiques (France), Fotofestiwal Lodz. Finalist of Prix Voies Off Sélections at Les Rencontres d'Arles Off festival (France) and Photo Diploma Award (Poland). Curator of many national and international exhibitions of photography students of the Film School in Lodz.
Founded in 2012, the publishing house BLOW UP PRESS is a family project of two photography enthusiasts. In its early days, it focused on publishing online photo magazines ("doc! photo magazine" and "contra doc!"), before switching completely to paper in 2016. A year later, the first monograph was published, which became the driving wheel for subsequent book publishing projects that deal with thought-provoking topics, as reflected in the publishing house's motto: When the story matters. Today BLOW UP PRESS is a nationally and internationally recognized publishing house specializing in photography books and photography-based art books. Books with the distinctive letter B on the spine win recognition from readers and critics around the world, and are awarded at prestigious photography and art book competitions. BLOW UP PRESS collaborates with emerging and established photographers from around the world and actively promotes its publications. Throughout the year, the distinctive black and gray booth can be found at major national and international book and photography events. Since 2020, BLOW UP PRESS has also been organizing the BUP Book Award competition, where the grand prize is the transfer of a photographic project to book format and its publication.