MACHAS

Igor Omulecki for Audi

I know: you are probably thinking that we are exaggerating. Or worse, that we got carried away with a nasty case of self-promotion. But take a look at the images on the left of this text: Igor’s work for Audi Hyperspace project is, simply put, truly beautiful.

Thirteen photographs of absolute perfection where apparent opposites lie with seamless continuity within the frame: a hyper enhanced reality in which surreal, ethereal landscapes are experienced through the dynamic force of auto motion.

We met up with Machas Artist Igor Omulecki to give us a little peak behind the scenes of this project.

M: Hello Igor, can you tell us how did the Hyperspace project come about?

IO: In 2010 Audi decided to develop a creative partnership to launch the new Audi A8. They gave me complete creative freedom and Hyperspace is the concept I’ve came up with.

M: what was your inspiration to create such surreal images?

IO: I try to keep my approach as intuitive as I can. I don’t analyze my work too much, I rather act on instinct and leave the interpretation of my work to the viewer. I drew my inspiration from the classics B&W masters like Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, Minor White or Jerry N. Uelsmann.

M: where did the shoot take place? And why did you choose those locations?

IO: The project was executed in winter 2010 and everything happened very quickly. We shot the first part in three locations: in Szczeliniec, South Poland, in the regions of Table Mountains and in Rocky City in Czech Republic. These are such magic places and they inspired me enormously. To be honest with you, I always wanted to do a project in these places and I’ve waited quite a long time before the right occasion could come along so effortlessly. The second part, the one with the sea landscape, was shot in the National Park of Sowińskim Łeby; the conditions were fantastic as the sea was frozen and that rarely happens. It was really cold – minus 20 degrees. I think that these were the ideal conditions and it really motivated me.

M: The images suggest that there was a lot of walking involved; can you tell us more about it?

IO: We had a very heavy equipment that we dragged on the sleds, but on the Table Mountains we had to carry it on our back! When my assistant and I came back to the hotel after a 12 hours working day in the frost, we fell asleep like children. It was a very athletic job but I love winter sports and mountains as I’m a ski instructor and I do ski tours for fun.

Find out more about the Hyperspace project here