Kinga Wrona

From the project '85' by Kinga Wrona

Biography

Kinga Wrona is a Polish documentary photographer/visual artist living in Krakow (Poland). In her latest works she explores the relationship between human and nature in aspect of climate change,natural disaster or environmental degradation. She is an artist nominated to FUTURES (emerging artists platform) in 2023 by Fotofestiwal in Lodz. Selected for 2022 Visualising climate crisis workshop by NOOR agency. Her works have been exhibited among others during Festival Circulacion (S) 2023 Paris (France), Daegu Photo Biennale, 2023 (South Korea), "A sense of place", Bpart Gallery 2023, Berlin, Galeria Centrala Poland. She has published in PUBLICO, The Calvert Journal, National Geographic Polska and New York Post.

The project

"When it comes to question about how the volcanos work, practically everything is a mystery. Signals may appear before the eruption, but it is never certain it will occur. It is almost impossible to determine the time when the eruption starts and the moment when magma becomes unstable or predict the intensity of eruption. Volcanoes symbolize the duality of destructive force and the new beginning. Spanish Canary Island, la Palma, only exists because of volcanic eruption built this land long time ago, forming the archipelago known as the Canary Islands. In 2021, during 85 days the volcano Cumbre Vieja on La Palma has been active. The eruption was the longest in the history of the island and the most destructive of last century in Europe. The lava erupted uncontrollably, burning everything on its way to the sea. The volcano, which has been declared extinct, has irretrievably destroyed the possessions of many people's lives, changing their lives forever and demonstrating man's powerlessness against element. Fascinated by this natural phenomenon but also interested in the relationship of the island's inhabitants with the environment and the volcano itself, I traveled to la Palma in 2022 twice, right after the eruption of Cumber Vieja has been declared over. Most of the time I spent on meeting with the natives of la Palma and talking about their heartbreaking experiences of last months. Based on this conversation rest of the time I spent on lonely walks around the island photographing spontaneously what I found around me. During my trips, I experienced how extremely close and inseparable is relationship of human and nature and at the same time how fragile is the environment shaped and managed by man. What I found unique was the approach to life of the local habitants of the island and their great humility towards the volcano. Even in such a difficult situation I heard: "You know it is a great tragedy, but volcano was first here, gave us a land for a living, later we came (humans), we have to remember it and respect it" (...) „Living here on a volcanic island is a love - hate relation simultaneously"'