Devil's Rib

Mateusz Kowalik's first book Devil's Rib explores the radical and inspiring choice some people make to live in nature, modern hermits who voluntarily decide to escape the frenetic pace of our daily urban life, to dwell in a wild environment with its charms and difficulties. The author spent a year in the Polish wilderness experiencing and documenting this choice.

The images introduce us to a world where nothing is taken for granted. Seemingly idyllic, the imperfect landscapes and the people portrayed manage to convey the reality of this alternative way of life. The photographs combine strength and vulnerability, tension and calm in equal measure, while the accompanying short texts offer complementary information about daily tasks and certain emotional aspects.