Interview: Dani Wieczorek
Luca Curci talks with Dani Wieczorek during BODYSPACES, first appointment of CANVAS INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2024, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

After a 16−year tenure as a producer, Dani has embraced nurturing her innate artistic essence. Delving into the visual arts, film and writing, she has expanded her horizons and embarked on a soulful path of self-expression, love, acceptance and advocacy. Born with a genetic mutation, Dani belongs to a world where unimagined things are proven possible. She has defied the odds and found ways to hack life from a young age. Recently created and produced two photo series: I AM A PIECE OF ART, which celebrates self-love and the beauty of unalike bodies challenging conventional beauty standards, and LIVRE LEVE E SOLTA, which confronts patriarchal norms and claims the freedom of the female form. Parallel to that, Dani is leading the production of PRESENTE!, an independent documentary that follows the journey of Brazilian Black female political and community leaders in their fight for human rights, and developing her first short film, ALL EYES ON ME, a love letter to pride and prejudice. 

Luca Curci – How did you get into photography? Do you remember why you took your first professional photo?
Dani Wieczorek – I’ve always loved photography, but it is only recently that I’ve explored this medium professionally. As a kid, I used to bring my film camera with me to photograph my friends and family on special occasions. I was always very conscious about the shots I would take, as film rolls were expensive for me and my family. It is curious because my first professional shots were for the documentary I am producing, PRESENTE!, as it has been independently produced, I jumped to be a still photographer on set so we could optimize costs. “Make a Dream Reality” is a portrait of Magda Gomes and one of the shots taken that very first day. It is so special to show this piece at the BODYSPACES exhibition, mainly because it is a fundraising piece to support her and her work. Magda is an agent of transformation and a strong community leader from Rocinha, moving the needle in many global crisis issues. 

LC – According to you, what makes a good photo? Which details do you focus on? 
DW – A good photo does more than just capture a moment. It has layers of meanings that, consciously or unconsciously, deeply touch its observers. It can translate feelings or evoke emotions. When I am photographing, I love to find beauty from different angles and perspectives. Experiment with corners and sometimes move around with the camera until I find something special. 

LC – What do you think about art on social media? Are they turning into the new showcases of contemporary art?
DW – Social media is what you do with it. I’ve been using it as a platform for inspiration, following humans that I admire, not only for art but also for personal growth and intellectual learning, and looking for references that help me explore new things. It’s a media that allows you to reach anyone in any place in this world, which feels more democratic than other forms of media. Still, it can be overwhelming sometimes, so I am focusing on slow content creation when it comes to my own sharing. 

LC – Where do you find your inspiration? 
DW – I am a huge fan of independent cinema and art, and I constantly go to screenings and art shows. I also thoughtfully listen to the people around me. Everyone has a unique story, and if you are open to it, it can be a powerful source of inspiration. 

LC – How do you feel when you see your work completed? 
DW – Very grateful. When I connect with a piece on a profound level, I sometimes cry because the emotions feel bigger than my own body. 

LC – What do you think about the concept of this exhibition? How did it inspire you? 
DW – When I learned the concept for this exhibition, the perception of our body as the first step in appropriating our identity, I felt deeply connected and compelled to exhibit my work due to its synergy. As someone born with an unusual body, I learned from a very early stage in life to love myself as I came to this world. My parents taught me this, and it has been a vital tool in navigating this world. It also allowed me to perceive how this is not everyone’s reality and how the perception of our own body is influenced by the world around us (especially and heavily by media) – for example, growing up, I found it easier to embrace my body over my genetic mutation than to shaping into a woman’s body as the patriarchal system takes so much from us. Realizing that I had a powerful perspective on acceptance and self-love inspired me to be vocal about it, and art has been the channel through which I find the freedom and courage to express it. The artwork I am showing in this exhibition is part of the recent series I created, I AM A PIECE OF ART, which celebrates self-love and the beauty of unalike bodies through photographs of my very unique hands. 

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists? 
DW – It certainly does. Being able to showcase my work in a city that breathes art and has such strong cultural relevance has given me an incentive to keep creating and solidified my view of myself as an artist. 

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us? 
DW – I had a great time collaborating with ITSLIQUID and loved being at the opening and meeting everyone in person. They took such great care of my work <3