There Is Only Beatrice. And She Is Not Here – Poremba, Rychlik, Kroszczyński

There Is Only Beatrice. And She Is Not Here was a photography exhibition organized to mark the 700th anniversary of Dante’s death, dedicated to the figure of Beatrice, a symbol of love, beauty, and spiritual inspiration. The show featured works by Jacek Poremba, Iness Rychlik, and Stanisław Kroszczyński.

Each artist brought a distinct perspective: Poremba worked with classical portraiture, Rychlik created self-portraits infused with historical stylization, while Kroszczyński blurred the boundaries between photography and painting, exploring archetypes and the literary layers of the image. Together, they wove a narrative about contemporary forms of Beatrice — her presence, absence, transformation, and reflection in today’s social fears and collective imagination.

Curated by Jagoda Witkowska, the exhibition delved into themes of pressure, self-perception, illusion, and the projections imposed by contemporary culture. The artists questioned entrenched patterns, probing the boundaries between truth and fantasy — and asking who Beatrice might be today.