The passion of the past
When I discovered the photography of Ewa Cieszkowska I quickly identified with their lively colors and the scenes she portrayed. Desire to live, play, show, fun. Her self-portraits are strong, as her expression, characteristic of a strong personality of who has experienced extreme passion but now has found the peace of joie de vivre. In her eyes we find the strength of all that surrounds us but being aware that we’ll never discover its secret. Her works portrait scenes perfectly studied except for the light that goes always with her as she feels it in every moment. She is like her photography, a talent to be discovered.
What is a Burlesque poupée? It is an attitude?
It's not just an attitude, it’s a stripper who reveals her body in a show well studied. They all have very different personalities and very different artistic options to choose. Strippers are showing their body to a precise audience. They tend to be passionate for retro, for the past, and some need to be a Hollywood beauty. But the main inspiration comes from the pin-up queen Bettie Page and fifties. Some are charismatic femmes fatales, some rock, some fun! I chose women because they play a character in my photos giving them a role according to their physique and personality. For example, the girl poupée: is the one with the apple of love. The choice was easy because her artistic name Pomme d'Amour was right in that paper. The femme fatale, a hat cold beauty as a woman of 30 or 40 years. So I chose poupées women true burlesque. My hairdresser and my makeup have given a funny twist that makes the difference between her private life and reality.
We could say that you look for the glamorous light in the body. But what is the light of glamor?
I do not know what the color of glamor is, I never know in advance what light I use in my sessions, just as everything was scheduled for the session, ie, the event with the girls with stylists, hairdressers and makeup! He had planned everything for them except light. I do things based on feel.
The sensuality mixed with naivety is also a participant. Why is always so attractive naivety?
Kinda like in the fifties, like a smile, to show that we are happy ... a bit silly, but true.
The colors are vibrant, an invitation to enjoy life. They are a reflection of your own personality?
It is true that I rarely take black and white photos. Some years ago I made some photos very trash, very dark and black, and I was actually the lowest oin drugs and my photos reflected the consequences which was not favorable to me. Today all this is over, I'm happy, lively and bright! I enjoy life and I like to laugh and have fun. Yes, they are a reflection of my personality. I am also a burlesque poupée basically just that I'm not a stripper but a passionate pin-up of Marilyn Monroe, Bettie Page and the past. That's why I see these women producing a show.
You recently worked with Karl Lagerfeld. Tell us about that experience.
I am registered in a model agency. The agency contacted me for an audition when they were looking for a makeup artist for the advertising of the Magnum ice cream, which was directed by Karl. After the audition, I got a call that afternoon to tell me that I had been chosen. Two days later, early in the morning in Paris. I had stylists to dress, hairdresser and makeup artist. Around noon, Karl came to see how things were going and my surprise was that he spoke to me because he recognized me from the casting because he chose me. He was lovely to praise my style, he asked me questions about my private life! A real surprise! I was more than excited! Happy to be with him. The working day was long and hard, especially for high heels of 15 cm. But what experience!
You have also been the photographer of Virgin Princesse in her first album. You have more experience in music?
Yes, photos of Juliette Katz before her first album, but we all know that artists will soon forget about you. And I didn’t take her bad photos in the past. So Cat Lady also, I made for her the front cover of Magazine, she’s a singer and maybewill release an album soon.
We can say that your photos look for reality?
I do not know, I'm in my world.
Men in your photos show always a hard image. No tenderness?
Men do not inspire me! I do not want to photograph them ... I’m not able to do it.
Another aspect is your love for tattoo. Where does this love come from? Life is a tattoo?
The tattoo has an important place in my life, although it closes me a lot of doors ... but not stop living my things for fear of negative looks. I started tattooing me at 17 years but the big pieces, mostly, I've done them the later ... and no regrets! I've always been attracted to anything artistic and to image ... except that in this case is the image on the body.
Sex and seduction?
None of sex ... Always seduction.
What is your portrait?
My portrait? You have my picture then you know it.
MLLE EWA | POUPÉES BURLESQUES exhibition here
An interview by Juan Carlos Romero
Photos by Mlle Ewa. © Mlle Ewa