Artist Spotlight - Photographic Artist Pola Esther

The playful, imaginative and experimental Pola Esther (alias) is a New London based photographic artist born and raised in Lodz, Poland. With a background in theater, her photographs represent “little spectacles” that she creates or discovers. The results of her work vibrate with her energetic spirit.

Pola practiced experimental theater for ten years in school and studied theater at University of Lodz.  After studying at the University of Lodz she moved to New London eight years ago and worked at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in the prop department. 

Out of a desire to continue her creative path in life with a different medium Pola picked up photography. Although she was unfamiliar with the art scene at the time, she created her own productions using her friends and various props including large rubber insects.  “I always like to create surreal situations in normal environments,” says Pola.

Pola enjoys taking photos that are blurry, sloppy, or with a smudged lens and vignettes because it reminds her of old-fashioned photography. She is also fond of juxtaposition in her images such as placing feminine figures in an urban decay or warehouse situation. She will find an intriguing space and then “decorate it with people.”

Her first photography show in New London was at with Susan Madacsi, titled Poliz.  It was a play on words meant to remind you of the word police which brings to mind control and rules. Poliż is also the polish word for “lick it” which encourages you to break the rules of a gallery by getting close enough to the art to “lick it.” “I order you to lick my art…I mean come closer, really absorb it,” Pola tells Patch.

The idea of having people being interactive and getting very close and intimate with her work also comes from her theater background. “I've always been seduced by active participation of the audience since I started making theater…and intimacy, energy, movement of the light…humor, fun, playfulness. That's what drives my senses.”

Shortly after her first show she became a resident artist in the Hygienic, where she currently stays.  The Hygienic requires its residents to produce a show once every two years as well as participate in a group show of all the residents once a year, so you can expect a lot more of Pola in future Hygienic shows.

Her second display, also in the Hygienic, was part of the 2010 artist in residence group show.  Her photo installation was inspired by attachments and letting go. The display was of numerous photos printed directly onto a bed spread that represented intimacy while the adjacent night stand, which had photos on sale for 96 cents, served to represent the release of those attachments. “Whenever someone took a photo from the night stand they were taking part in the installation…and it’s like they are taking a part of me”

Pola’s most recent show, currently on display at the Hygienic, is “Common Ground,” a collaboration by six artists to take an intimate look at the city of New London.  Pola Esther was raised in Poland where 90% of the population is Roman Catholic. She was fascinated by the number of places of worship of different denominations available in a relatively small area in New London, so she focuses on these places of worship in the city. 

The presentation is in installation form with slides hanging from the ceiling in a curtained off room where viewers can observe the images in their own little “confessional” through a slide previewer. “Common Ground,” will be ongoing until April 16th.

For more information on photography by Pola Esther visit PolaEsther.com