Part of the Certificate of Absence II cycle

This black-and-white photo, taken by Izabella Retkowska, depicts a richly draped cloth, full of creases and pleats, densely filling up the entire frame of depiction. The cotton material has been woven very thinly, which makes it semi-transparent, while the unique shape of the material brings references to the phenomena that are, by definition, amorphous and placed on the verge of materiality: mist, haze or smoke. This impression is further enhanced by dynamics typical for this depiction, which suggests dissemination and slow expansion beyond the image circle. The outline of a human face is a significant motif here, although it is not seen upon the very first look, only to be recognised a little later – it is a mask veiled in fabric, pushed to the periphery of this composition. [F. Pręgowski]