Nightlife, for many, is simply a place to unwind and escape the daily grind. Yet, for Monika Kozak, it is a multifaceted, transformative experience—a dynamic blend of creativity, performance, and self-discovery.
A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Kozak has spent years documenting the vibrant club culture of the Polish capital – especially in the clubs Jasna Jeden and K-Bar Powiśle. Through her lens, she captures more than just moments; she encapsulates an ephemeral world where music, fashion, and identity converge. Her artistic exploration sheds light on the deeper meaning of clubbing as a cultural phenomenon.
Everybody’s searching for a place where they can be known
KIM ENGLISH “NIGHTLIFE”
But I’ve found a place where I can do no wrong
Everybody’s loving me for being me
But I never thought that I could be so free
Yes, I’m a dancer,
Round and round
The music’s got me high
I don’t want to come down
It was the perfect atmosphere
Now it’s just a memory far away from here
In the night life
That’s where I wanna be
A Theatre of the Night
Kozak describes clubs as a “theatre of the night,” where music, dance, and interaction create a transformative experience. She views clubbing as a paratheatrical form, offering individuals the freedom to experiment with their identities and immerse themselves in a collective performance. This interplay of the personal and communal, the real and imagined, forms the heart of her photographic work. Kozak’s images reveal how the dance floor becomes an egalitarian space, allowing for both escapism and profound self-discovery.
I document club culture with a particular focus on the expression and creativity of the queer community. In photography, I am most interested in the human being, his or her identity and creativity, and the search for the boundaries of self-expression and other people’s expression. I experiment with the idea of the mask – transformation and theatricality. I am inspired by counterculture, music and fashion.
Capturing the Zeitgeist
Unlike traditional event photography, Kozak’s approach to club photography prioritizes authenticity and artistic expression. She focuses on details—the boldness of an outfit, the raw energy of movement, or the fleeting connection between individuals. Her work aims to document the zeitgeist of specific places and moments, offering a unique blend of reportage and art. For Kozak, the club scene is more than a party; it’s a cultural ecosystem, a space where creativity thrives and societal norms are challenged.
A Celebration of Individuality
Kozak’s photography often features bold, eccentric individuals who defy stylistic and social conventions. She sees nightclubs and raves as platforms for radical self-expression, where fashion and styling become tools for personal and political statements. Inspired by figures like Leigh Bowery and movements such as London’s Club Kids or Berlin’s Berghain culture, Kozak’s work celebrates the creativity and freedom that nightlife fosters. She captures not only the aesthetics but also the spirit of those who make these spaces so unique.
Clubs as Cultural Hubs
Clubs have historically been sites of cultural and social innovation. From New York’s CBGB and Studio 54 to Blitz and Electrowerkz, these spaces have birthed movements and provided safe havens for marginalized communities, she explained in her latest interview for Mixmag Poland. Kozak highlights how Polish club culture still struggles to gain recognition as a vital part of cultural discourse. She believes that clubs should be seen not just as venues but as autonomous spaces with their own creative ecosystems, where art, music, and identity intersect.
The Power of Immersion
Kozak’s personal involvement in the club scene sets her work apart. Unlike photographers who remain detached observers, she fully immerses herself in the environment, blending into the colorful, dancing crowd. Her attire and expressive style reflect the creativity of the people she photographs, breaking down barriers and fostering connections. This engagement allows her to capture the authentic “vibe” of a moment, making her work a true reflection of the culture she documents.
Dance gives the body an opportunity for expression and expression, and us a sense of space-time bending and being completely here and now. For that one moment, people from very different backgrounds and with very different experiences from different parts of the city or even the world become an energetic organism – one in music. It gives a liberating and communal experience…. For me, what is important in photographing nightlife is the sensitivity, the colour, the movement, the sense of another world into which the music and dance transports us while creating art at the same time. With a photo, I try to convey this ephemerality. The camera for me is the eye of an extension of the artist, the photograph will always be subjective to some degree. What is interesting in club photography is the contact between two energies: those of the dancers and the photographed person. The observer and the participant.
A Journey Through Identity and Expression
For Kozak, clubbing is not merely an escape but a journey of self-discovery. She views the club as a stage and the personas adopted there as metaphorical masks, allowing individuals to explore facets of their identities in a safe and accepting environment. Drawing on Oscar Wilde’s observation that “a mask reveals the truth,” Kozak’s photography delves into the deeper truths that emerge in these spaces, celebrating diversity, creativity, and the cathartic power of self-expression.
Fashion and styling in this form is an opportunity for radical self-expression and a political manifesto. This is how important it is for me in photography to capture such people and unfettered human creativity. People, who create something from the bottom up out of conviction with even small resources. I am interested in people who are directly involved and who are the authentic fabric of a place. It is also important to exchange experiences with such people and their creativity and ideas. Thanks to such meetings, I had the opportunity to be photographed by a legend of the London Club kids photography scene – the great artist Damien Frost.
Bridging Art and Nightlife
Kozak’s ongoing work includes creating an artistic album showcasing Warsaw’s nightlife as an integral part of the city’s cultural landscape. She emphasizes the need to document these spaces as places of artistic and social significance. While Western club cultures have long been recognized for their contributions to art and society, Kozak aims to bring similar awareness to Poland’s vibrant and evolving scene. Her work preserves the essence of these moments and positions clubbing as a legitimate cultural movement.
Through her evocative photography and immersive approach, Monika Kozak elevates club culture from mere entertainment to a profound form of artistic and social expression.
Her work challenges traditional notions of nightlife, highlighting its role as a theater of transformation, creativity, and collective unity. By capturing the zeitgeist of Warsaw’s club scene, Kozak invites us to reconsider the cultural significance of the spaces where music, art, and identity come alive.
Monika Kozak is currently working on her first photo album.
You can follow Monika Kozak on Instagram: @mon_and_ka
Text by Artur Wojtczak
