Michal SZLAGA (b. 1978), From the series: Pixel prostitutes: Thirteenth Madonna, Twenty-fourth Madonna, Fourteenth Madonna, 2009-2016/2016.

Thirteenth Madonna: pigment print/cardboard, archival paper, 50 x 50 cm;signed, dated and described on the reverse on cardboard: PIXEL PROSTITUTES / THIRTEENTH
MADONNA MADONNA / 1/5 + 1AP. / 2009 - 2016 / 2019 / POLAND WARSAW / MICHAŁ SZLAGA (in pencil), author's print, edition: 1/5 + 1 A.P.

Twenty-fourth Madonna: pigment print/cardboard, archival paper, 50 x 50 cm; 2009-2016/2016, pigment print/cardboard, archival paper, 50 x 50 cm;signed, dated and described on the back on cardboard: PIXEL PROSTITUTES / TWENTY-FOURTH MADONNA / 1/5 + 1AP. / 2009 - 2016 / 2019 / POLAND WARSAW / MICHAŁ SZLAGA (in pencil), author's print, edition: 1/5 + 1 A.P.

Fourteenth Madonna: pigment print/cardboard, archival paper, 50 x 50 cm; signed, dated and described on the reverse on cardboard: PIXEL PROSTITUTES / FOURTEENTH THIS MADONNA / 1/5 + 1AP. / 2009 - 2016 / 2019 / POLAND WARSAW / MICHAŁ SZLAGA (in pencil), author's print, edition: 1/5 + 1 A.P.

EXHIBITED:
- Alternativa, IS Wyspa, Gdansk, 2011 (20 photographs);
- Opole Festival of Photography, 2011(20 photographs);
- I photographed the Polish king, BWA Awangarda, Wroclaw, 2018 (60 photographs);
- I Photographed the Polish King, CCA Łaźnia 1, Gdańsk,

In 2009-2016, Michal Szlaga created a series of
60 photographs Pixel prostitutes. The frames were
taken in motion, from a car going 120
km/h, and then processed by the artist
into appropriate pixels so that they are still legible,
sharp from a distance, but at the same time allowed the anonymity of the
anonymity of the portrayed when looking
at them up close. At the same time, this procedure, combined
with depriving the photographs of their narrative nature, made the,
the series homogeneous, also thanks to the preservation of
analogous scale of the Madonnas. The series was accompanied by
author's commentary on the health and safety of the profession,
collected from available streetworking sites
dealing with the support of prostitutes (also from
foreign sites).
"Don't trust clients. Avoid drunken clients.
If a client makes trouble or wants you to do
things you don't feel like doing, don't panic
panic, but pretend that you agree to everything,
and at the same time look for an escape route.
If a customer is choking you, don't try to pull his hands away,
instead, squeeze his testicles firmly. Go on a course of
self-defense. Don't keep large sums of money
in the workplace. If you have long hair, hide it
them under a wig that can be easily pulled off. Choose
a place that is well-lit and not too secluded.
Never go with more than one customer, even
if they offer you a huge sum of money. Always
carry a pen and a small notebook. Write down
the license plate numbers of the car, the name of the place you are going to
you are going and other important information. Always
carry something you can use as a weapon
- Hairspray, a bunch of keys. Wear shoes in which you
you can run away in. Never wear to work
scarves, shawls, necklaces that a customer can
use to strangle you. Don't carry a bag on a long
strap. Go around your car to make sure,
That no one is hiding in it. Run against traffic."