I am Monika.

After my fortieth birthday, I began to pay greater attention to the beauty around me. I found myself able to notice something extraordinary everywhere. I decided that I would capture it on paper, canvas, or wood – but in a way that reflects how I see it. Colours appear more vivid, shapes sharper and more defined. I fell in love with the dark mood style. It feels so elegant, lending a sense of nobility to what is depicted in a photograph or painting.

I am someone who deeply values peace – both silence and inner calm. It is this inner state that I often express in my nature photography. I believe that nothing creates more beautifully or perfectly than nature itself.

This subject is also close to my heart for another reason. I completed three degrees in the field of biology. Frequent observations of life under the microscope have, perhaps subconsciously, made me feel at ease with close-up photography. I enjoy taking a careful look. It allows me to reveal so many details. In this way, a picture transforms into a photograph, leaving the viewer with wide scope for interpretation. That freedom – the space I leave to the audience – brings me joy.

Nature... Silence... Calm... Detail... To these four qualities of my style, I would also add minimalism, which brings harmony and order. Contrary to appearances, it is not easy for me to express minimalism in photographs. Such an image requires a balance of structure and colour. That is why, after more than twenty years, I decided to return to drawing and painting. I am steadily expanding my skills and knowledge. I mix paints. I work on texture. I explore different techniques. One of them is icon painting, a journey I began a year ago. It is a completely different dimension of visual art – demanding, yet deeply rewarding...

Warm regards,

Monika Frys-Żurek