Magdalena Pilarska "Sławek"
They bring him into a small room in the shade of muted yellow. I am waiting for him in the company of some people.
Showcasing the graduates of the Sputnik Photos Mentoring Programme 2023/2024. More photos will be on display at the exhibition
in Warsaw, starting 26 April, 2025.
Sławek is a well-built, tall, bald man. He has a lot of tattoos on his body, including his face. His gaze and actually the whole impression he gives make me think that it will be rough, although I do not know yet what it might exactly mean.
Sławek does not give me a single look, as if I was not there at all. He seems stressed out.
‘What the fuck am I doing here? Why am I here? Who is this lady? I haven’t done anything! I haven’t gone apeshit or anything!’
A calm voice of a man says: ‘Sławek, take it easy. The lady came with a proposition. She would like to tell you about it.’
‘Why me? What the fuck is going on here? For fuck sake, this situation stresses the shit out of me.’
Sławek fidgets about and darts around nervously.
‘Good morning, Mr. Sławek. My name is Magdalena. I am also stressed out as hell. Seriously. But maybe I will tell you briefly what it is all about – and maybe we will be both less stressed?’
‘Please, do. Jesus! It makes me super-stressed.’
‘So… In general, although I live in Warsaw, I originally come from Strzelce Opolskie. And I would like to carry out a photographic project here… We have met because…’
Sławek interrupts.
‘A photographic project, you say? Okay, okay – and can that help someone in any way at all?’
