Whispering Dahlias
I always photographed flowers, but never thought of why I was drawn to them. It was not until recently when going through archives I found a picture of my family house from before I was born.
Weronika Pasadyn
Photography 2023
Originally from Poland, I am a photographer currently based in Bristol, United Kingdom. Having moved abroad, I started using the medium to respond to memories and sentiments to reveal what is engraved on my heart. In my personal work, I build on an intense feeling of longing while looking for a painterly quality of place that sits between my past and present, to better understand the transitions in my life. Layering notions of roots, memory and identity, I attempt to form a narrative celebrating the beauty of connections and the family unit.
pasadyn.weronika@gmail.com www.weronikapasadyn.com →
The said photograph was taken by my father who captured our blooming Dahlia garden located in front of the house. It reminded me that growing up, I was surrounded by flowers and gardening was an invaluable task.
It all started with my late great-grandmother, whose passion for nurturing was ingrained in the family narrative and passed on. Although, leaving my family and moving abroad has significantly impacted my view on the values I grew up with.
With this project, I reflected heavily on my roots, relationships and home, as opposed to flying the nest. I have been seeking the painterly quality of place that sits between my past and present; between Poland and England.
The work has become an opportunity, together with my loved ones, to reflect on our shared memories and create new ones; to search for the meaning of what can be taken for granted, appreciated late, or not experienced at all.
This story is a search for deeper connections and a rediscovery of an environment so well known. It is about slowing down and enriching the quality of time spent together and apart, and most importantly about balancing belonging.