Bartek Muracki's "Reggae Faces" Exhibition

“Reggae Faces” is Bartek Muracki’s photo exhibition comprised of 24 portraits spanning over 50 years of the development of Jamaican music. By looking at the images of artists crucial to the growth of the genre – vocalists, instrumentalists and producers, we meet face-to-face the icons of the musical culture that developed in the Caribbean Sea basin in the 1960s and has since continued to develop all over the world.

Conceived as a narrative segue, the photos constitute both a chronicle of the transitions that reggae music has undergone and a record of the meetings between Jamaican (as well as international) artists and the Polish photographer. The exhibition opens with a reminder of the island debut of the 1939-born Jamaican Derrick Harriot and concludes with the emphasis on the global success of reggae, as epitomised by the unquestionable star of the genre, German singjay Gentleman.

Has been photographing music for over a decade. Although concert photography is his main domain, Bartek is most interested in music-oriented photojournalism that neither starts nor culminates on stage. He manages to find decisive moments and emotions in the quotidian – during an hours-long recording session, while shooting a video clip on location, or inside a tour bus. He looks at what remains hidden throughout a concert.

His commissions include Przystanek Woodstock, Ostróda Reggae Festival and Reggaenet.pl. His work has been presented as part of solo (Jamming, a touring exhibition) and collective exhibitions. He lives in Warsaw with wife Helena and daughter Iga.