Project Statement:
"Misplaced Childhood" explores the theme of early maturity among children growing up in rural Poland. This documentary series captures the moments where innocence intertwines with responsibility, freedom with constraints, and childhood with the inevitability of growing up too soon.
Through a series of black-and-white portraits, the project reflects on the lived realities of children who, while still engaged in play, are already confronting the structures of adulthood—be it through the responsibilities imposed by their environment, economic circumstances, or cultural expectations. These children, though seemingly carefree, embody a quiet resilience, an awareness that belies their years.
Set against the backdrop of Polish villages, where tradition and modernity coexist, the images highlight the tension between an idyllic rural childhood and the necessity to mature faster than expected. Whether riding old motorbikes, climbing trees, or contemplating their surroundings with a solemn gaze, the subjects of this series inhabit a liminal space—one where childhood is neither fully present nor entirely lost.
The title, inspired by Marillion’s iconic album, alludes to a sense of displacement—the feeling that childhood, as an idealized phase of life, may not always unfold as expected. Much like the album’s narrative, which grapples with nostalgia, loss, and the passage of time, this project asks: When does childhood truly end, and what does it mean to grow up too soon?
Technical Details:
Medium: Large-format black-and-white photography
Camera: Sinar P2 (8X10" format)
Film: Kodak TXP 320, Ilford HP5, FP4
Development: Kodak HC-110 (Dilution B)
