Despite its apparent simplicity, instant photography conceals a complex process that remains largely invisible to the user. Through the movement of chemical reagents within the film, the image develops directly in the photographer’s hands, gradually emerging before their eyes.

During the talk, we will discuss the origins of Polaroid technology, its distinctive characteristics, and the reasons it continues to attract artists today. We will explore how instant photography becomes a means of artistic expression, where the materiality of the image, the element of chance, and the uniqueness of each photograph take on particular significance.

As part of the event, artist Anastasia Myachina will present her series Removal (2025) and discuss the technique of separating the upper image layer from a Polaroid photograph, known as the emulsion lift process.

Anastasia Myachina (born 1995) is a contemporary artist from Samara. She currently lives and works in St. Petersburg. Myachina studied at the Joseph Backstein Institute of Contemporary Art in the program New Artistic Strategies and has participated in group exhibitions in Russia and Italy. Her works are held in the collections of ROSPHOTO, the archive of the Garage Museum, and private collections.

In her artistic practice, she works across a variety of media, including photography, collage, and installation.

The event will take the form of an open discussion.