OIKO PETERSEN

+48 607 450 280

oiko.petersen@gmail.com

oikopetersen.com

Acting under a pseudonym, Oiko Petersen (born in 1983) made his big break at the artistic scene with the

series of staged photo portraits under the English title Guys. From Poland With Love (2006). One of the

characteristic features of these photos was the fact that the author approached the topic of sexual minorities

in a laid-back manner; and, what is more, the photos explored the potential of „a queer camp”. In other words,

the title „guys” – as the title of a popular, traveling around Poland exhibition was shortened – are i.a. a sissy

scoutmaster, a librarian in bizarre glasses, rosy-cheeked farmer’s son and a pot-bellied circus strongman

wearing make-up, who were all photographed with a pinch of salt, warm irony. While talking about the

portraits of „soft men”, Petersen said that „they do not have to be perceived as the portraits of homosexuals;

but various attempts to present manhood, which does not have to always take the same macho-style form,

from different perspectives. Despite these declarations, the „Guys” photos quickly became one of the artistic

icons of the dynamically-evolving gay movement in Poland.

After having portrayed gays from Poland, Petersen started to photograph young people suffering from Down

syndrome. Although many critics found the transition from Guys to Downtown (2009) outrageous and

incredible, it is possible to find certain consistency in the choice of the subject of the second series: the artist

deals with the problem of exclusion and social marginalization. Using the terminology from a medical

dictionary, it may be said that Petersen dealt with „trisomy 21”, and speaking in a more humane manner, he

photographs children and teenagers affected by congenital genetic disorder. In Petersen’s project the disorder

– associated by the majority of the society with an „illness” – is becoming, maybe not yet an advantage, but

something in between - a characteristic, a distinguishing feature. In Downtown, as well as in Guys series, we

deal with a characteristic over-accentuating, mixing the photographic conventions (portrait photography,

fashion photography, socially-involved photography). „Down” is for Petersen a sign of beauty, but not this

commonly seen beauty that one experiences while browsing some „normal” magazines about fashion and

lifestyle, the ones aimed at „the healthy and normal.”

Despite a huge success of Downtown, the artist decided to continue his studies and went to London, where he

did a minimalist project - 123 Men in a Blue T-shirt (2010). Photographic portraits of men were created in a

studio and they were meticulously stylized; however, they do not show any resemblance to the masquerade in

Guys. The cool, conceptual photography provides space for a more free use of the camera in the continuation

of London series of pictures created since 2010. „It’s a project about the way we meet and enter relations, a

story about friendship, love, and relationships”, says Petersen. A blue T-shirt, in which the artist photographs

people who capture his attention, is the main motif of this series as well. Asking the guys to wear a T-shirt and

pose makes him feel „a bit as if he was trying himself on.”

Adam Mazur Ph.D. | curator | Centre for Contemporary Art at Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw

GUYS. From Poland with love [2006]18 LAMBDA translucent C-Prints (100/75 cm) in lightboxes

Photos by Oiko Petersen from the series entitled Guys. From Poland with love demonstrate

different reincarnations and types of Polish men. (…) The artist plays with photographic

and gender conventions achieving seductive pictures that catch the eye and provoke. (…)

“Guys. From Poland with love” by Oiko Petersen are the most positive and cheerful

postcards from contemporary Poland. With a nod to the Polish plumber phenomenon, the

artist manages to surpass advertising norms and alters the rigid model of masculinity

through its various roles and images.

[Ph.D. PAWEŁ LESZKOWICZ / Institute of Art’s History UAM in Poznań]

Guys. From Poland with love. The titles begs the question: From which Poland?!? I think,

that this title can be understood to be a bitter irony or a postulated form: an attempt to

weakening stereotypes such as Pole - tough man or a Pole – good looking man, which, to

be honest are not only stereotypes, they are myths. (…) This is a critical point of view

concerning the cultural image of masculinity and suggests a new vision of masculinity:

with a better perspective, more amusing, free of traditional limits which are protected by

men themselves. (…) Oiko Petersen demonstrates how many roles there are for men in

the theater that is life. However, the characters from his works aren’t hostages of a style,

but rather they gain from culture that which perfectly expresses their nature.

[KAMIL MALINOWSKI | curator | The Art Supermarket Foundation]

DOWNTOWN Collection [2009]

13 LAMBDA C-Prints (110/75 cm)

Oiko Petersen keeps on pushing the limits. After Polish gays, he is now tackling the topic

of Down syndrome. It may sound scandalous and incredible, but there is a deeper

meaning in this. The artist continues to deal with the problem of social exclusion and

marginalization. (…) In his unique style, Petersen does not try to present us with fake

normality, feigned solemnity or forced compassion. Rather, he points out the peculiar

originality and, what is perhaps most difficult, he presents the distinctive sex appeal of

people with Down syndrome, the inaccessibility of their world to us, the ordinary ones.

[Adam Mazur Ph.D. | curator | Centre for Contemporary Art at Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw]

Rarely can we see an artistic vision of mental disability that does not attempt to convey

any educational message. Depictions of the handicapped usually serve as teaching aids

helping the rest of the society feel better. The project by Oiko Petersen is something

extraordinary in this respect. It does not contain even a trace of educational function.

Models shown in his pictures are independent, they do not serve any particular purpose or

exemplify anything. Down syndrome can be really beautiful and colourful. (...)

[Elżbieta Zakrzewska-Manterys | Professor | University of Warsaw – Institute of Applied Social Sciences ]

WHITESLOPE. A beautiful heritage [2011][Artists-in-Residence Programme at The Ludwik Zamenhof Centre / Bialystok (PL)]

17 EPSON C-Prints (various sizes)

As far as a photographic aspect is concerned, Whiteslope is a formally simple project. It is

rather a series of photos than a typology: beautiful men and luxuriant nature. These

frames could serve as a visually-attractive advertising material for the local authorities.

The human capital and the title heritage of Bialystok region are one thing, and the

promotion of local patriotism, pride derived from the fact that „we’re from here” are

another thing. Can we be sure, though, that these photos fit into the local context? Up to

the present day, Petersen has been famous for his subversive projects. Even if it is not so

obvious as in the case of Guys or Downtown, it is no exception this time either. The artist

exposes a photographic film to capture portraits, landscapes, and the beauty of the

motherland. Everybody would visit Whiteslope with pleasure as well as Downtown, but this

land – as for now – exists only in the realm of art, in Oiko Petersen’s photos.

[Adam Mazur Ph.D. | curator | Centre for Contemporary Art at Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw]

1·2·3 men in a blue T-shirt

The objects of desire are like salty water: no matter how much you drink, the thirst only

increases [Gyalse Tokme Zangpo (1295-1369)].

PART I (2009): 18 Lambda C-Type prints (9,5 / 9,5 cm)Mounted on perspex + aluminium

One hundred twenty three men in a blue T-shirt is a meditation on desire. Trying on the

blue t-shirt functions as a metaphor for a search of an ideal partner.

„It’s a project about the way we meet and enter relations, a story about friendship, love,

and relationships”, says Petersen. A blue T-shirt, in which the artist photographs people

who capture his attention, is the main motif of this series as well. Asking the guys to wear

a T-shirt and pose makes him feel „a bit as if he was trying himself on.” [A.Mazur]

PART II: ongoing

OIKO PETERSEN

Born 1983 | Wrocław [PL]

Lives and works in Warsaw | Berlin | London

oiko.petersen@gmail.com

www.oikopetersen.com

Education:

2009 MA Photography, London College of Communication, London (GB)

2008 BA (Hons) Literary studies and linguistics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw (PL)

Selected Solo Exhibitions:

2011 Whiteslope. A beautiful heritage, Ludwik Zamenhof Centre, Bialystok (PL) [Artists-in-Residence Programme]

2010 Downtown Collection, Jerusalem Cinematheuqe, Jerusalem (IL)

2009 Downtown Collection, Mieszkanie Gepperta, Wrocław (PL)

2009 Downtown Collection, Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes, Szczecin (PL)

2009 Downtown Collection, Gallery Element65, Warszawa (PL)

2008 Guys. From Poland with love, Gallery65, Warszawa (PL)

2007 Guys. From Poland with love, Mieszkanie Gepperta, Wrocław (PL)

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2009 MAP2009, LCC, London (GB)

2009 Salon09, Matt Roberts Arts, London (GB)

2009 Transphotographique09, Palais Rameau + Lambersart, Lille (FR)

2009 Transfotografia09, Center for Contemporary Art Laznia, Gdansk (PL)

2009 Fotofestiwal09, Lodz Art Center, Lodz (PL)

2009 Vouge, Center for Contemporary Art Laznia, Gdansk (PL)

2009 Potencje meskosci, Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes, Szczecin (PL)

2008 Pingyao International Photography Festival, Shanxi, Pingyao (CHN)

2008 Backlight08 International Photographic Triennal, TR1, Tampere (FIN)

2008 The Red Eye Effect. Polish photography in the 21st-century, Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle,

Warsaw (PL)

Selected Publications:

2011 Monika Kosz-Koszewska, Mityczny Whiteslope, Gazeta Wyborcza Białystok, 16/06/2011)

2009 Mike Urbaniak, Akward Inaccessibility (an interview), Wysokie Obcasy, NR 16 (519)

2009 Magda Podsiadly, Dissents states of photography, Gazeta Wyborcza Wrocław, 20/10/09

2009 Witold Kanicki, Transphotographiques Lille 2009, Kwartalnik Fotografia, 30/2009

2009 Waldemar Śliwczyński, Fotofestiwal 2009. 8., Kwartalnik Fotografia, 30/2009

2009 Olivier Despicht, Les TransPhotos 09, PHOTO (FR), 459/2009

2009 Vladimir Birgus, Stredni Evropa dominovala v Lille, DigiFoto 7/2009

2009 Eva Milczarek, Gabriela Jarzebowska, Potencje meskosci (exhibition catalogue), Gallery 13 muz, Szczecin

2009 Paweł Leszkowicz, Vouge (exhibition catalogue), Laznia Centre for Contemporary Art, Gdansk

2009 various authors, Downtown Collection (exhibition catalogue), Gallery Element65, Warszawa

2009 Adam Mazur, Downtown [in] I love photography, Stowarzyszenie 40 000 Malarzy, Warszawa

2008 Marta Sinior, Polskie chłopaki na fotografiach Oiko Petersena, Fotopolis, 29/02/08

2008 Igor Seider, Postcards from a very different Poland, Zycie Warszawy, 6/03/2008

2007 Agnieszka Kłos, Human. A luxury good, Rita Baum, 09/2007

2007 Agnieszka Kłos, Piotr Stasiowski, Wyprawa po ładne ciacha (skype chat), Obieg, 15/10/07

2007 Paweł Leszkowicz, Sex, Secesja, NR (2)/07