What is it?

“It’s something that will remain” – said Zofia Rydet about photographs, which she made ​​while working on a cycle Sociological Record. That “something that remained” has become an inspiration and a challenge to start a project that is a modern continuation, and also the interpretation of Sociological Record. “Something that remains” is an open gallery site that allows you to watch and include contemporary photographs referring to a Sociological Record. It’s an experiment that allows you to see what is still valid today in the idea and method of work of Zofia Rydet and what has changed, what still inspires, and calls for reflection, what was important then, and what is important now.

How does it work?

If you like taking pictures – no matter whether professional or amateur; If you think that photography can be an excuse to meet up with people – friends and strangers; If you like a challenge; If you have the desire to look at the everyday surroundings in an unusual way; If you want to participate in an experimental project, which is based on common assumptions, but allows for individual work … … We invite you to contribute to the gallery “Something that remains”. The gallery includes pictures taken by people of all ages, from various places in Poland, from big cities and small towns. For some, photography is a profession, for others a passion, for others still quite occasional engagement. The key for us is to experience shooting situations as meeting with another person – the type of exchange, cooperation and dialogue that had a chance to occur between people located on both sides of the camera. The existence of the gallery is an excuse for this, to pay attention to what happens every day, unnoticed, for which is always not enough time. This is an opportunity to stop, talk, make an appointment and take pictures with friends and strangers, and by the way – a conversation, a dinner, listening to the story, watching interiors and objects. Form a set of photos that can be developed jointly – by multiple people in different places at the same time. If you want to join the photo gallery, read our Gallery Terms – “Something that remains” (only in Polish).

Where did the idea come from?

Sociological Record is a total project – that assumed the formation of the inventory that has no end. Zofia Rydet created record herself doing the titanic, an original work that may be – in some sense and in modern terms – continued. It is an inspiration not only to reflect on the reality that passed, but also the one that lasts – including the role of photography in its meaning, exploring, watching . Only now – having seen the Internet era, digital media and social communication – Sociological Record of Zofia Rydet can be presented in its entirety, and thus encourage new reflection and interpretation. In 2013, the portal www.zofiarydet.com has been opened, which has been made ​​available digitized archive of Sociological Record with several thousand photographs – a collection that could not be previously presented in its entirety , firstly because the author herself has not had time to develop it ( Zofia Rydet died in 1997 ), and secondly because no pre- Internet form of publication (music, exhibition) was not capable of presenting the material consisting of photographs, in which each and every person inside seem to be equally important. Internet tools allow you to view the record in its entirety and the contemporary context (new media, social networks, the growing popularity of Creative Common) extract from it a new potential – the idea that even though has one author can inspire to act collectively, simultaneously in many places, which is the experience and cooperation of many people. This is what seems to be the most interesting, on the one hand, the use of photography as a tool for personal meetings and mutual understanding, and on the other hand, the ability to consciously create a visual archive of modernity.

Authors of the gallery „Something that remains”

Paweł Biedrzycki, Kamila Buturula, Paweł Dudziak, Kornelia Głowacka-Wolf, Weronika Idzikowska Ewelina Kątny, Piotr Komajda, Monika Kozub, Aneta Krefta-Maciejowska, Iwona Kubica, Michał Kwapisiewicz, Karola Mech, Paweł Niemczak, Mateusz Piątkowski, Julia Skórzyńska-Ślusarek, Aneta Urban, Katarzyna Wieczorek, Bartek Wiejaczka, Marcin Wojciech, Anna Wołoch, Grzegorz Ziemiański

Idea, conducting workshops, mentoring

Agnieszka Pajączkowska (Association of Creative Initiatives “ę”) „Something that remains” is a project of Association of Creative Initiatives “ę” realized in cooperation with Zofia Rydet Foundation and Foundation for Visual Arts, organizer of the digitalization project of „Sociological Record” by  Zofia Rydet.