About — Jo Kalinowski

Statement

Having lived in many cities, I have always been naturally sensitive to my surroundings and space. This spacial sensitivity and changes in my lifestyle made photography a natural choice for documenting the moments that caught my attention. With no formal education in art or photography, I taught myself how to use a camera and create images through trial and error; this form of play became my way of learning.

From that point on, creating compositions of everyday things became studies of colour, line, texture and shape. My curiosity with how light renders surface, shape and colour, both challenges and motivates me. It is these fundamentals that allow me to recognise and capture the beauty in ordinary scenes. A beauty that would serve as a response and at times memory relived. Photography has become another way for me to communicate my ideas and respond to my everyday surroundings.

BIO

Photography is a relatively recent addition to Jo's life. Her work is inspired by a connection between her British urban roots and her current life in rural Victoria, Australia. Over the past few years Jo has been exploring man-made and natural landscapes through minimalist-style photography. Jo has contributed her photographs to several online contemporary and fine art magazines including Aestheticmag, Feature Shoot and Art Upon Magazine. In February of 2018, Jo held a solo exhibition of her works titled ‘Urban Dreamer’ followed by a group exhibition in December 2018 at Shelf Life Gallery in Victoria, Australia.

Jo is currently working on a book titled “Other Peoples Treasures.” The project is closely connected to her work in a residential aged care facility where Jo introduces music programmes as a way to enhance the lives of the residents. Through written vignettes, details and still life photographs, the book shares aspects of the lives of residents through images of their personal treasures. The goal of the book is to share the beauty and the richness of their unnoticed worlds.

Jo Kalinowski was born in London, UK. Her first career was as a hair stylist in London’s West End. Jo immersed herself in this fast paced industry and went on to be an artistic style director in addition to teaching apprentices in British and International salons. A curiosity and desire for travel, eventualy led her to Victoria, Australia.

When spare time is created, you will find Jo escaping reality on the family land kicking back amongst the gum trees.