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Rura (signed)

by Krzysztof Racon

Photographs: Krzysztof Racon

Text: Agnieszka Rayss, Krzysztof Racon

Publisher: selfpublished, paper beats rock

Pictures: 31

Year: 2015

Comments: 15 x 21 cm, first edition of 200 copies

Rura is a gigantic steel structure that was made to transport iron ore from a railway hub to the major steelworks in a heavily industrialized region in southern Poland. It overpasses a forest, roads, fields and finally for a short distance it runs over a small town which name is difficult to pronounce and remember. This monumental structure dominates the landscape of the town. It’s a hostile place to humans where not only the landscape but also air, soil and water have been poisoned by the adjacent landfill, incineration plant and chicken slaughterhouse. As in a broken mirror, you notice many deformed objects in this degraded landscape. In a place where even the trees take on a strange shape, you start to believe in the story of a two-headed cat that lived somewhere around . You walk inside and ask yourself: "Do I believe it? You want to understand why people stayed here. Is it just a habit or some common unspoken secrets? A sound of slamming doors and barking dogs are one of many signs that suggest you that you should better leave this place.

Krzysztof Racon is a documentary photographer based in Krakow. Student of Institute of Creative Photography in Opava (Czech Republic). Graduate of the Jagiellonian University and Academy of Photography in Krakow (Poland). Participant of Sputnik Photos mentorship program. Twice awarded in the international contest "Lens on development" organized by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2013, his project on the small village located in the shadow of a great industrial conveyor tube brought him first place in the second edition of the Vienna International Photo Awards (VIPA). In May 2015 published his first photobook “Rura”. In 2015 finalist in Kolga Tbilisi Photoawards 2015 and II prize in BZWBK Press 2015 for his project "disappearing lakes" dedicated to Roznowskie and Czchowskie lakes.

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