OFKS-student Joanna in international festivals and exhibitions

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Your music video "Misused- Abused- Used up", created as a student project at Oslo Fotokunstskole, has attracted a lot of attention from film festivals, most recently winning first place in its category at a film festival in Ukraine. How does it feel to get your school project presented to a broader and international audience? And could you tell us a bit about this video?‍

I am very happy that this project has received so much attention, especially because it addresses the important issue of domestic violence. It means a great deal to me that my work carries a meaningful message. I believe that art should engage with important social issues and that artists' voices can make a real difference by encouraging reflection, opening conversations, and raising awareness.

The music video was created as a student project at Oslo Fotokunstskole in collaboration with my friends. It was made for Misused - Abused - Used Up, a song by my friend’s solo music project, Złe Oko. The lyrics explore the psychological consequences of domestic violence-loneliness, fear, guilt, and the constant question many survivors ask themselves: "What could I have done differently?"‍

From the very beginning, I wanted the video to be simple and restrained. I deliberately limited the production to the school's studio and avoided dramatic effects or literal depictions of violence. Instead, I wanted to create a raw and intimate space where emotions, silence, and isolation could speak for themselves. People experiencing domestic violence often face it completely alone and keep it hidden for a long time. That sense of loneliness was what I wanted to convey.

I am deeply grateful that the video has been recognized at international film festivals and that it received the main award at a festival in Ukraine. It is equally meaningful to me that it has been screened in schools. I believe art has the greatest value when it not only offers an aesthetic experience but also helps us talk about difficult yet important issues. If this film encourages even one person to start a conversation or raises awareness about domestic violence, then I feel it has fulfilled its purpose.

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You were part of Photofestiwal Lodz in Poland this summer, which is one of the largest photography festivals in Central Europe, with your photographic project "Do It Yourself". Later this summer, it will also be presented at PhMuseum in Bologna. Could you tell us about this project?‍

“Do It Yourself” is a response to today’s visual culture, which is obsessed with eternal youth and unrealistic beauty standards. I created something like a beauty salon reflected in a distorted mirror. Through humor, exaggeration, and camp aesthetics, I make fun of the beauty ideals promoted by social media and question the illusion of perfection.

I use my own body as the main subject of the project. It comes from my personal insecurities and from noticing how much pressure contemporary culture puts on us. I keep asking myself: Do other people really see my double chin, my belly, or the asymmetry of my body? Are these things actually visible, or do they exist only in my own mind?‍

I did not want to create a sad project about body pressure. Instead, I chose experimentation, humor, and irony. In my self-portraits, I deliberately highlight and distort body parts that are often considered imperfections. I also use makeup products and beauty accessories in unconventional ways, transforming them into sculptural materials and abstract compositions. For me, distortion becomes a form of freedom and a way of questioning established beauty norms.

I am very happy that the project was presented during the Night of Photography at Fotofestiwal Łódź as one of the shortlisted projects for the PhMuseum Photography Grant 2026. It will also be presented at Kranj Foto Fest in Slovenia and PhMuseum Days in Bologna later this year. It is a great opportunity to share this work with an international audience and start conversations about how contemporary visual culture shapes the way we perceive our bodies.

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This project was created when you were part of the mentoring program at Sputnik Photos. Could you tell us about this program? What is your experience from taking part in it?‍

The Sputnik Photos Mentoring Programme was a very important stage in my artistic development. It is an intensive course in which participants work closely with mentors from Sputnik Photos to develop their own photographic project-from the initial idea, through every stage of the creative process, to a coherent body of work.

I had the privilege of working under the guidance of Rafał Milach, whose work I have admired for many years. He is a professor at the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School of the University of Silesia in Katowice and a member of Magnum Photos. His experience, critical feedback, and way of thinking about photography had a significant impact on the development of my project.

One of the greatest strengths of the programme was the opportunity to consult my work with other mentors, including Jan Brykczyński, Karolina Gembara, Michał Łuczak, and Adam Pańczuk. Each of them is an outstanding photographer and educator, and their different perspectives helped me look at my project in new and unexpected ways.

What I appreciated most was the creative freedom the programme offered. I was encouraged to work on a subject that genuinely mattered to me while receiving thoughtful guidance and constructive criticism throughout the process. The programme concluded with a group exhibition and the publication of a book featuring all of the participants' projects. It was a valuable experience that not only helped me develop “Do It Yourself” but also gave me greater confidence in my artistic practice and visual storytelling.

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You are a student at Oslo Fotokunstskole's part-time study program for Film and video art. How has it been for you taking part in this evening-based study program with a specialised focus on moving images? ‍

After completing the Sputnik Photos Mentoring Programme, I felt ready to move beyond still photography and explore another medium that is closely connected to it. Film is, after all, a moving image, so expanding my practice into video felt like a natural next step. Looking back, it also feels like a continuation of my earlier artistic education. I had previously studied Art Education at the University of the Arts in Poznań, where performance became an important part of my practice. Experimental film has allowed me to bring together my interests in photography, performance, movement, and visual storytelling within a single medium.

Oslo Fotokunstskole gave me the opportunity to continue developing in that direction. I am still a student in the Film and Video Art programme, and I am very happy with that decision. What attracts me most to experimental film is the creative freedom it offers. I can move beyond conventional storytelling and experiment with image, sound, rhythm, and form in ways that constantly challenge me as an artist.

I have also been fortunate to study with outstanding teachers, Marius Mathisrud and Tor-Finn Malum Fitje. We have built a relationship based on trust, and I never hesitate to discuss the subjects I want to explore in my work, even difficult ones such as domestic violence, which I address in my music video Misused - Abused - Used Up. Having mentors who are open to these conversations is incredibly valuable.

Another aspect I truly appreciate is that the school regularly invites professional filmmakers, photographers, and artists to give talks, and it also organizes visits to festivals. These experiences have helped me broaden my perspective, stay connected to contemporary artistic practice, and gradually become part of the local creative community in Oslo.

One of the results of these connections is Oslo Fotokolektyw (IG: @oslofotokolektyw), which I co-founded with Paulina Zięba, a graduate of Oslo Fotokunstskole. Together, we pursue our shared passion for photography by working across different creative contexts. Most recently, we documented the making of Witch Club Satan's new music video, The Kids Will Kill Us, directed by Stian Andersen and Witch Club Satan.

The practical approach of the programme is another great advantage. I can discuss my projects with tutors almost every day, and I have access to professional equipment and studio facilities, which gives me the freedom to experiment and develop new ideas.

What stands out most about Oslo Fotokunstskole is its fresh, contemporary approach and its openness to experimentation. It encourages students to develop their own artistic voice instead of following predefined formulas. For me, that is exactly what a great art education should be.

JOANNA OLICHWER IS A PART-TIME STUDENT AT OSLO FOTOKUNSTSKOLE. FOLLOW HER WORK ON @JOHANKAOLICHWER & @OSLOFOTOKOLEKTYW.
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