about

Bachelor's degree project
Promoter: Maciej Gniady, PhD
Animation Studio, Faculty of Intermedia
Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow

One of my favorite experiences is traveling alone by car at night. I love the prevailing emptiness, the palpable slowing down of the world compared to the very active and dynamic daytime. The contemplative, dreamlike aura of such journeys facilitates crossing the boundaries between reality and unreality. I am fascinated by the uniqueness of this experience; the uniqueness of the world at 3 AM.

A constant element of such trips is the titular gas stations. Illuminating the nightsky with a halo of light, they are like an oasis in the desert of darkness. Open 24/7,they become carriers of change as day turns into night. Gas stations serve as astarting point for a broader thematic scope. In the project, I discuss their role as aportal between two worlds, the dreamlike atmosphere at night, and my own perception ofhow it is distorted.

The title of the project comes from an internet post by a user of the wykop.pl website - kroman. The post is not long but successfully captures how the dynamics of these places change at night. The frantic pace of the day slows down, the pressure to fulfill the roles we assume, by choice or not, in society dissipates. Instead, we can be more ourselves. Reality becomes more pleasant, easier to find oneself in and survive.