Martin Marencin, Slowly Slovakia (2001

Martin Marencin, Slowly Slovakia (2001-2003)

Slowly Slovakia (2001 – 2003), by a Slovak photographer Martin Marencin, is an extensive photo-essay depicting Slovakia of the early 2000s. Slowly Slovakia started off as a study of Slovak street advertising funded by a grant rom a national advertising agency. However, after one year it turned into a fully-fledged documentary project now split into six major sections – Advertising, MMI, Landscape, Red & White, People, and 2004.

Marencin wants us to see Slovakia full of paradoxes and contrasts, a country in transition where the old slowly disappears but the new appears equally slowly. It’s fascinating how Marencin really manages to convey that sense of absurdity thanks to the bold use of colour and composition. It’s an interesting and visually stunning body of work that certainly deserves more attention!