To forgive is to be sharp.
Alicja Pyszka-Franceschini
Breaking something might reveal what’s behind it. Light unobstructed by matter.
-Alicja Pyszka-Franceschini
Photographs and thoughts: Alicja Pyszka-Franceschini, 2025
Light and Day
Category: Art and Design
The purpose of the past/ Cel przeszłości
Photograph: Alicja Pyszka-Franceschini, 2025
Is it possible to improve in life without being grateful for the past and what it taught us? Could we make progress in life without seeing the positives in our personal journeys? Could we be artistic, creative, productive if we do not appreciate what we have or what has passed? If we are angry that the flowers have died, could we appreciate their textures, their patterns, their beauty highlighted by time? They were. They existed. They contributed. If we decide to engage with the past or the passing of time in a creative manner, the effect is usually gratifying. Could it be otherwise?
Czy można poprawić sobie życie bez odczuwania wdzięczności za przeszłość i za to czego nas nauczyła? Czy możemy robić postępy w życiu, nie dostrzegając pozytywów w naszych osobistych podróżach? Czy możemy być artystyczni, kreatywni, produktywni, jeśli nie doceniamy tego, co mamy lub tego, co minęło? Jeśli jesteśmy źli, że kwiaty umarły, czy możemy docenić ich faktury, ich wzory, ich piękno podkreślone przez czas? Były. Istniły. Przyczyniły się do piękna. Jeśli zdecydujemy się na twórcze zajęcie się przeszłością lub wpływem przemijania, efekt będzie zazwyczaj satysfakcjonujący. Czy by mogło być inaczej?
Abstract from ice (modified and updated)
Once upon a time we had a rabbit. The rabbit died over a year ago just on New Year’s Eve. We took the rabbit tray outside, it was in our garden collecting rain water and algae. It was a big cage, capacious. When the big freeze came over the last week all that water with algae froze creating interesting patterns and compositions. I chopped the ice with an old bread tin. It was also filled with heavy ice. Our son lifted it off the tray. He placed it next to his knee to show how tall and thick it was, impressive in size. I photographed the blocks of ice while they were still floating among the icy water and when son was holding the ice.
The algae surrounded them. I then post-processed the photos in Lightroom. My favourite abstract composition is below.
I wonder what you think of it all?
Let me know.
x
And yesterday while walking, I met this little being. I think its eye is in the abstract.
Writing and photography: Alicja Pyszka-Franceschini, 2025, Home Studio, Derby, UK. Outdoor photo taken in Willington, South Derbyshire.
Updated 16.01.2025.
Gratitude for ice
It’s hard to see this. This amount of flooding and the road closure. It is easy to become overwhelmed. After all, we see Earth in a trauma response. With a compromised immunity system. When we cross Earth’s boundaries, Earth crosses ours. You feel this too? And yet Earth never stops being generous. Giving beyond the easily discernible. It tells us to look harder, better. Beyond the ‘road closure’ sign. There is art to be grateful for.
Two pieces of work abstracted from ice. Mostly created on this road.
Willington, Derbyshire, UK.
Work of Alicja Pyszka-Franceschini, 2025.
Oh, by the way, I updated
my photo art portfolio. You can see it here: https://a-credible-dreamer.co.uk/
I have one more post to share soon. Expect a new arrival on Sunday.
I hope you are really taking care of yourself. Make use of the refreshing icy weather if you’re based in this hemisphere. And do what makes you happier and stronger. Speak soon. x
When ego bursts…
(...)
When ego bursts
It makes space
For the other...
Alicja Pyszka-Franceschini, Autumn 2024
From the anthology On Immaturity (not yet published) by Alicja Pyszka-Franceschini
Photograph: Alicja Pyszka-Franceschini, Ambergate, The Birches, Derbyshire, UK
Postcards Without Stamps 