In “Stable Vices,” Polish artist Joanna Piotrowska explores the complex intersections of protection, freedom, and oppression. The title refers to repetitive, “stereotypic” behaviors horses develop in captivity—a metaphor for the psychological and physical constraints humans face. The book brings together three major series: one inspired by self-defense manuals where women react against invisible opponents; another featuring precarious shelters built from furniture and blankets in domestic spaces; and a third focusing on cages and enclosures, drawing haunting parallels between the environments of animals and human social structures. Her stark, black-and-white photography captures the tension of the body in space, revealing the underlying power dynamics of our private lives.
