honorable mention
Elena Helfrecht germany
title
Nightmares
In a profound psychological attempt our fears, which often cannot be described sufficiently in words, are dissected and taxidermied. Like twodimensional dioramas the images are an invitation to the viewer to mentally dive deeper into the scenery and to face their own fears in a reflective way.
Working self-taught she lays her focus on the pure essence of human and entity closely linked to the peculiar beauty behind every pretence. Observing the world through the facades' flaws she uncovers the disconcerting aesthetics of suppressed fears, emotions and dreams.
Only by looking at her subjects in their absolute entirety she evokes an intimate intensity and creates enchanting abysses. Thereby she is also governed by her studies of Art History and Book Sciences, which she finished with a bachelor's degree in early 2015 in Erlangen.
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entry description
Stilistically inspired by German Symbolism and Dark Romanticism, "Nightmares" visualizes personal anxieties, primal fears and unearthly visions afflicting us in our sleep. By staging those visions photographically they are given a tangible form, which allows the viewer to deal with and analyze them. Invisible monsters cannot be fought.In a profound psychological attempt our fears, which often cannot be described sufficiently in words, are dissected and taxidermied. Like twodimensional dioramas the images are an invitation to the viewer to mentally dive deeper into the scenery and to face their own fears in a reflective way.
about the photographer
Elena Helfrecht, born 1992 in the bleak realms of rural Bavaria, discovers her passion for photography as preferred visual medium at early age and is influenced by the dark forests and folklore of her homeland.Working self-taught she lays her focus on the pure essence of human and entity closely linked to the peculiar beauty behind every pretence. Observing the world through the facades' flaws she uncovers the disconcerting aesthetics of suppressed fears, emotions and dreams.
Only by looking at her subjects in their absolute entirety she evokes an intimate intensity and creates enchanting abysses. Thereby she is also governed by her studies of Art History and Book Sciences, which she finished with a bachelor's degree in early 2015 in Erlangen.
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