Spirit of Water

Flag, mask, glove, pillow of the Spirit of Water - cyanotypes on cotton (various formats), pattern and sewing: Berenika Pyza; series of digital photographs; large-format scrolls - photographs and scans of graphics; cyanotypes on paper, A4, 2024-2025

The figure of the Spirit of Water is inspired by Slavic beliefs related to the cult of water and creatures inhabiting aquatic ecosystems (Water Maiden, Rusalka, Boginka, Dziwożona, Wiła, Brzegina, Brzeginka). The objects are covered with water motifs, including photographs of aquatic ecosystems where I conducted field research in 2022–2024 (e.g., Rogaliński Landscape Park, Puszcza Zielonki Landscape Park, Krajkowo Reserve).

The project was initially created with direct reference to the natural environment of Poland, but in the course of further work it became a more universal concept.

The Flag of Water

The flag with the slogan “Water is the beginning of all things” is the flag of all waters - the flag of the entire Earth, waters undivided by human borders. The quote on the fabric is taken from the ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus.

The Water Spirit glove, mask and pillow

The Water Spirit glove and mask were created to hide the human body and blend into the landscape. You can lay your head on the water pillow, fall asleep, and dream of wild rivers, lakes, wetlands, and floodplains. The pillow can also be a soft shield—providing protection, allowing you to disappear for a moment, to merge with the natural environment.

Site-specific artwork/performance for nature

The Spirit of Water is a performative concept – the final character was photographed in various landscapes and locations of natural value in Poland and Indonesia. The activities carried out in Indonesia were part of an artist residency at the Jatiwangi Art Factory. The photographs were taken in collaboration with photographers Adhiwinanto Semali and Nur Khamdan.

Spirit of Water (Body of Water) – cyanotypes on A4 paper – is a series of works showing maps of the diverse terrain of selected water reservoirs in Greater Poland (based on data from geoportal.gov.pl). The works draw attention to the sculptural potential of water. The cyanotype “Water” is a list of nouns, verbs, and adjectives illustrating the omnipresence of water in human life and the environment. The work is based on information from the Dictionary of Stereotypes and Folk Symbols (J. Bartmiński).

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