Despite having studied archaeology, Slovakian Maria Svarbova, since 2010 until today, continues through her photographic instinct to garner international recognition and set new precedents in photographic expression. She has received several prestigious awards, including the Hasselblad Masters Award, and her exhibitions have placed her high on the list, attracting the attention of prominent publications such as Vogue, Forbes, CNN, The Guardian and others. In 2019, Apple commissioned her to create an exclusive series of photographs to be captured with an iPhone. This effort was preceded by two books of her photographs: Swimming Pool (2017) and Future Retro (2019). Swimming Pools presents an updated edition that is now out of print and features a new format, design, and content. Swimming Pool is Svarbova’s largest and ongoing series. Inspired by her exploration of interesting locations in Slovakia, her love for public pools contributed to the development of her photographic eye. The sterile, geometric beauty of old swimming pools, generally constructed in the socialist era, set the tone for these photographs. There is almost a theatrical aura to the landscapes the photographer captures. The figures are in mid-motion, but there is no joyful playfulness. Frozen in composition, the swimmers are as smooth and cold as the pool tiles. Despite the retro setting, the images somehow also evoke a futuristic feeling, as if they were shot somewhere completely out of this world. The book is published by New Heroes & Pioneers.

Photos Courtesy of D. Zachrisson