Interview with Weronika Lewandowska
Photo: Monika Deimling
4th of September, 2017, Warsaw
Q: Why / when / how did you start to work with performance, what is your background, how did you arrive at doing performance?
My entire experience of creating different forms of expression could be perceived as the background of my performance practice. I must admit I was really lucky with my well-rounded early education. Also worth taking into account is the fact I grew up in the countryside. It has shaped my receptivity to details and awareness of open space. All my difficulties with education and language, crises, accidents were my challenges which pushed me towards breaking myself and finding new creative solutions in action. And of course – the time when I played with my grandmother in 'hide and seek' and listened to her bedtime stories.
I think I did my first performance when I was a kid. Recently I wrote a poem about this experience. But I didn't call it „a performance act” at that time. Actually the first act, which I named „a performance art”, took place 5 years ago and I came to that by my spoken word/slam poetry practice.
Q: What is your process like when you make a performance, from idea to actual work?
Sometimes it is a thought or an object, or a conversation with others, or a memory which is a starting point for the process. When I have an idea about what I would like to do, I walk a lot and imagine every element of the action. Then I gather all the elements and the idea emulates when I start to act in the real space. I wish to have my own studio where I can develop my performances, but usually I try a single parts of my work in my own living room.
Q: Can you tell about your latest project?
Recently I did a performance which was based on poetry written by few poets. It was a kind of remix action of texts.
Q: With what kind of form / material do you express yourself and use in your work and how did you arrive at using this material?
I like using projections and analog media, voice, light. I think something interesting happens when you use light and voice and you cover space/body/objects with ephemeral images which change the perception of things. I call this „a matter specific action”. I am interested in merging virtual with material. Most recently what inspires me a lot is performative design by the Rodina and setting designs used for photo sessions.
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