For as long as they could remember, being alone was a frightening place to be.
It was where they felt stripped down to their bare bones, where their loudest thoughts and emotions consumed them. Being alone was not simply solitude; it was loneliness
When COVID-19 emerged in March 2020, they were preparing to graduate with a Bachelor of Photography, filled with excitement about the possibilities ahead and the opportunities that awaited them. When the world came to a halt, they were forced into isolation. The temptation to retreat into uncertainty and be overwhelmed by loneliness was strong, but something within them led them to confront that solitude. At first, it was as terrifying as they had expected. Self-doubt threatened to overwhelm them after years of creative collaboration. As they processed their self-criticism, they began taking long walks at night, often the only safe way to be outside.
Bringing their camera was initially an afterthought, but it soon became essential. Photography had always been their way of expressing what they could not put into words. As they wandered through neighbourhoods night after night, they began photographing the warm lights glowing from people’s homes. They often found themself wondering who was inside, how they felt, and how they were living their lives. During this time, when everything felt uncertain and unstable, capturing these moments of warmth and familiarity helped them make sense of the coldness of the outside world. It reminded them that even in darkness, there is always a sense of comfort and belonging in the idea of home.
As life gradually returned to normal and new uncertainties replaced the pandemic, that sense of warmth remained a quiet reassurance.
Inside the Evening is an invitation. It seeks to remind viewers that even in their darkest and most solitary moments, there is always warmth, comfort, and familiarity to be found in the idea of home. Whether in a bustling city or a rural town, home is always present, waiting to be seen beyond the darkness.
About Jo Panasiuk
Jo Panasiuk did not always aspire to be a photographer. They spent much of their early life imagining a career as a police officer and began post-secondary studies in 2014 to pursue that path. However, while completing their programme in Protection, Security, and Investigation at Humber College, they increasingly realised that their personal morals and values were in conflict with the profession. They recognised that this tension would only deepen if they continued towards becoming an OPP officer.
Upon reaching this turning point, it was their mother who encouraged them to pursue photography. Although they had long considered it a hobby, they had not realised it could be studied academically. They began their degree at Sheridan in 2016 and graduated in 2020 with an Honours Bachelor of Photography. They then started working as a photo assistant in Toronto’s commercial photography industry. These experiences allowed them to explore, appreciate, and experiment with a wide range of photographic approaches, while continuing to refine their personal style and sources of inspiration.
In their own practice, they create work that aligns with fine art photography. Drawn to the everyday magic of the mundane, they produce cinematic, narrative-driven images that explore the intersection of solitude, wilderness, and human presence. They are often found wandering through neighbourhoods in the evenings, travelling, exploring the natural world, and seeking light in the darkest places. [Official Website]
