As far as I remember...
Project which initially focused on my family’s history, became a story of human identity and the search for truth in the context of forgetting.
‘As far as I remember...’ is a handmade book covered in grey cardboard. On the front side, apart from the title, there is an embossed field the size of a proof photo. That very field became the starting point for conversations, and my personal exploration of the history of a place where my father grew up. It wasn’t until I was 25 years old that I learnt what my grandfather looked like. In my house, we do not talk about the past, we rarely reminisce.
Nowinki is my dad’s home village, currently inhabited by 5 people. It is five kilometres of paved road in a thick forest, one monument and one car. Two apiaries, a cross standing nearby and two stray dogs wandering around. The surrounding forest slowly devours the place and no one even thinks to stop this process. In a world of constant documentation of reality, this settlement without images comes to life again thanks to photography.
I returned to this place after several years of absence. The acquired documents and archival vernacular photographs complement the reporter’s tale made over the course of two years. Apart from the written texts, the publication is a collection of conversations with former and current inhabitants of Nowinki.
In addition to the chosen theme, the balance between different types of photography – vernacular, archival and contemporary – was important factor in the design process of in conveying one coherent story. Two languages: one of words and the other of image, which are often side by side in any kinds of publications, here are equal or even one. An attempt to break this barrier became the basis for the design.
While designing, the typographic aspect of the project was significant in order to convey the story in the most effective way. Through systematic use of selected characters in appropriate arrangements, I created a code, in whichletters and punctiuation gain new functions. The former illustrates the meanings of words while the latter puts spotlight on emphasizes selected phrases, mutes the others, sometimes illustraes the way my respondents speak.
The publication contains sketchy elements, fragments of notes, documents and photocopies. This form emphasises a personal approach to the subject, serves as a representation of the process of creating of the book. Every detail is designed to serve the story as well as the reader.
It is a fully original project. 188 pages in book form, format 19.5 x 27 cm vertical, digital print,
Olin Regular paper, Natural White 100 g/m2.