Currently my focus is on visual investigation of the systems of control and manipulation at the interface between the authorities and society. It follows from my long-term interest in the political transformation of the post-Soviet territories. For me, the former Eastern Bloc has become a laboratory in which various models of modern propaganda are tested. A key focal point of my current artistic practice is the clash between non-heroic gestures and ostensibly neutral spaces, which are in fact set against a political background of current events. The oppressive nature of the areas I investigate is reflected in architecture, objects, and suitably formatted social structures.
Rafał Milach
Born in 1978 in Gliwice (Poland). Visual artist, photographer, author of photo books. Graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland, and the ITF Institute of Creative Photography of the Silesian University in Opava, Czech Republic (currently lecturer at ITF). His award-winning photo books include The Winners, 7 Rooms, and The First March of Gentlemen. Rafał Milach has received scholarships from the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Magnum Foundation, and European Cultural Foundation. Finalist of the prestigious Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2018 and winner of the World Press Photo competition. Co-founder of the Sputnik Photos collective of photographers and nominee member of Magnum Photos. His works have been widely exhibited in Poland and worldwide, and can be found in the collections of the Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw, the ING Polish Art Foundation, Kiyosato, the Museum of Photographic Arts (Japan), and Brandts in Odense (Denmark).
MONOGRAPHS
2018 Nearly Every Rose on the Barriers in front of the Parliament JEDNOSTKA
2017 PRESSIDENT Szara Gallery, partner: JEDNOSTKA
2017 The First March of GentlemenKolekcja Wrzesińska I ed., GOST II ed. in 2018
2014 The Winners GOST (I+II ed.)
2013 Black Sea of Concrete self-published
2012 In the Car with R Czytelnia Sztuki Gallery
2011 7 Rooms Kehrer Verlag I ed., II ed. in 2013
COLLECTIVE BOOKS
2017 Fruit Garden (LTA 3) Sputnik Photos
2016 Wordbook (LTA 1) Sputnik Photos
2014 Psopplaainnd. Mapping the Blind Spots Sputnik Photos, Nophoto
2014 Contact sheets. The Selected Photos. Vol II Postcart Edizioni
2012 Distant Place Copernicus Science Center
2012 Stand BY Sputnik Photos
2010 Is(not) Sputnik Photos
2010 U Sputnik Photos
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 Refusal Karlin Studios Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic
2018 Refusal PGS National Gallery, Sopot, Poland
2018 The Winners Side Gallery, Newcastle, UK
2018 The First March of Gentlemen ISSP Gallery, Riga, Latvia
2017 The First March of Gentlemen Fonderia 20.9 Gallery, Verona, Italy
2017 Refusal Szara Gallery, Katowice, Poland
2017 Refusal Atlas Sztuki Gallery, Łódź, Poland
2014 In the Car with R Fotodepartament, St.Petersburg, Russia
2013 7 Rooms Brandts, Odense, Denmark
2012 7 Rooms C/O Berlin, Berlin, Germany
2012 7 Rooms Noorderlicht Photo Gallery, Groningen, The Netherlands
2012 7 Rooms Zacheta National Gallery of Art, Warsaw, Poland
2012 In the car with R Czytelnia Sztuki, Gliwice, Poland
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2018 Imagined Borders Gwangju Biennale of Contemporary Art, Gwangju, South Korea
2018 Lost Territories Archive Riga International Biennale of Contemporary Art, Riga, Latvia
2018 Deutsche Börse Photography Prize The Photographers’ Gallery, London, UK
2017 The Resistance of the Form Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland
2017 Lost Territories: CONTROL Fotohof, Salzburg, Austria
2017 Lost Territories: THE NEW END Arsenal Gallery, Białystok, Poland
2016 Lost Territories: SEDIMENT CCA Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, Poland
2014 Sputnik Photos. The Collective Fotodok, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2013 Stand BY Sputnik Photos, Leica Gallery, Warsaw, Poland
2012 IS(not) LA Art Museum, Hveragerdi, Iceland
2010 U Noorderlicht Fotogalerie, Groningen,The Netherlands
2010 All creatures great and small Zacheta National Gallery of Art, Warsaw, Poland
2008 World Press Photo
COLLECTIONS
Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw, Poland
ING Polish Art Foundation, Poland
Kiyosato, the Museum of Photographic Arts, Japan
Brandts in Odense, Denmark
AWARDS
2018 Shpilman Photography Award Mention of Honor, Jerusalem, Israel
2018 The Polish Photobook of the Year winner, Fotopublikacja roku, Łódź, PL
2012 POYI – The best photography book winner, Missouri, USA
2009 Photography Book Now Grand Prize, New York, USA
2009 POYI II prize in category Science, Natural History, Missouri, USA
2008 World Press Photo I prize in category Arts and Entertainment, Amsterdam, NL
SHORTLISTS
2018 Polityka Passports Award
2018 Deutsche Börse Photography Prize
2014 Paris Photo / Aperture Photo Book Award Book of the Year
2014 Oscar Barnack Award
2013 POYI The best photography book
2012 Paris Photo / Aperture Photo Book Award First book
GRANTS
2013 Magnum Emergency Found
2013 Young Poland Polish Ministry of Culture
2009 Young Poland Polish Ministry of Culture
2006 European Cultural Foundation
