« Growing up in the 90s in Warsaw, Poland, I loved and craved for the alluring American culture. The city looked very different from what it is now. There was only one tall building in the dowtown area, the Marriott Hotel, no shopping malls. I dreamt my own American dream. Movies, toys and food, the whole life style. I wanted it all », confess Zuzanna Szarek, the photographer of this series named « M ».

« I was never that keen on the food but the Happy Meal toy was something of a goal itself and the most appealing part of the menu. This was a very seductive promise of happiness. A rush of excitement for the hungry consumer I was quickly becoming. Today as the city is changing fast, skycrapers are rising as fast as hype restaurants are opening : local, vegan, fusion… Golden arches stand firmly offering continuity and their promise. This series shows the over-sized monster, hovering above the city’s landscape that became more of a landmark then a destination itself », she adds.

« I also wanted to focus on the M symbol because it reminded me of my childhood Ghost Buster hero : Ray. When suddendly a giant marshmallow creature emerges from behind the buildings Ray confesses : « I tried to think of the most harmless thing, something I loved from my childhood, something that could never possibly destroy us Mr. Stay Puff » ».

Follow her on her Instagram page, @szarek.