Interview with Pavel Javor

#1 Please introduce yourself

Pavel Javor, it is my artistic name. I’m Polish. I live and work in a small, peaceful town in central Poland. By work I’m illustrator and graphic designer.

#2 How did you get interested in photography?

My father was the amateur photographer. Camera was our companion during every trip, journey or stroll. His beautiful silver Practica IV has always been an unattainable object of desire to me. I guess my adventure with photography started with his remarks and my observations of photos. I got my first camera in 1972. It was Soviet Smena 8, then Zenith and finally Yashica. My first pictures were made on low quality films, because that was all which was available for amateur photographers in Poland at that time. At the beginning I was mostly interested in landscapes.

#3 Do you have an artistic/photographic background?

Not at all. I am self-taught photographer. By education I’m graphic designer and typographer. I draw, previously I was also painting a lot. Image creation (I mean painting, drawing, as well as graphics) always fascinated me. My imagination was influenced most by medieval paintings, renaissance masterpieces and works of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. I think photography for me is the next, higher, stronger and probably the last level of this fascination. To have control over the real image as well as unlimited possibilities of interpretation and narrative implicates unique opportunity of creation. The valve for the imagination.

#4 Which artist/photographer inspired your art?

At the time when my sensitivity was forming it was much easier in Poland to see old paintings rather than works of modern, worldwide photography. I became familiar with well known works of great masters of photography just in ‘90s. Today, after many years, when I look at my pictures I would say without a doubt that it was Ruth Bernard who inspired me. Her photos and the way of perceiving reality are very close to me. It might be surprising for you but I also admire pictorial photographers – stately works of Rudolf Eickemeyer and magical, picturesque world of Robert Demachy’s photos. Nowadays because of the reality that surrounds us this kind of narration seem to be unreachable.

#5 What is it about nude photography that interest you the most?

If I remember correctly I did my first nude session in 1986, but my perception of nudity and what it can become for the photographer came to me just few years ago. What interests me most is the study of the body. Searching. Photographing act I try to avoid sexuality, eroticism and universal beauty and to present only interesting shape, detail which in the specific light and shadow becomes abstract and independent form. I show body deprived from emotions. My models don’t look at the observer. It is shape which should evoke emotions. It is fascinating for me to discover how many mysterious shapes and images are hidden in human body. Naked body is a great tool to provoke, make fun of, to fool, but also to disturb, shout and force to reflection.

Unfortunately stereotype of nudity is still very strong. In many societies it is still taboo or on the other side is seen only as a perversion. Nudity is identified with beauty or eroticism and every other interpretation is unfortunately misunderstood.

#6 How do you find the models to work on your projects?

Due to the reasons described above I must admit it’s not easy. I am very demanding in this subject because I expect model will have similar attitude. It doesn’t make sense for me to work with someone who expect completely different results. Misunderstanding and different visions of beauty cannot lead to the same goal. I try to work with creative, confident, brave models who understand that they are taking part in art process. I hope they would understand that photography should lead to satisfaction of creating and evoking emotions and not just to “cute photos”, beauty and attractive appearance. Many photographers work with many models. New body, new proportions, new opportunities. For me the basis is interesting personality and mutual understanding. It is the key to success but also it is the source of the problem.