honorable mention
Kamila J. Gruss poland
Photo © Kamila J. Gruss
title
The Beginning of You
At the very beginning, we perceive nothing more than a delicate bean, symbolizing the essence of life. It is something entirely extraordinary, unlike anything we have known before. Gradually, as the fetus develops, this tiny entity takes on an increasingly human form. However, this moment also resembles a cosmic odyssey, where alien visitors explore our planet for the first time. In this way, I aim to emphasize the extraordinariness and the miracle of birth.
The symbolism of colors plays a pivotal role in this narrative. The shades of red and orange represent the maternal womb, underscoring that life takes shape within a woman's body. These warm colors symbolize safety, warmth, and the love that envelops the developing fetus.
The predominant golden color within the amniotic sac symbolizes the burgeoning life. It signifies abundance, wisdom, and hidden potential, reminding us that birth is one of the most significant events in our lives.
The entire photographic project aims to showcase the importance of conscious motherhood, where the choice to become a parent is free and voluntary. It is a unique moment when a mother decides to bring new life into the world.
This project illustrates how birth is both ordinary and extraordinary, leading us on a journey from the beginning of life to full humanity. It is a story that transitions from the symbol of maternal love and warmth to a cosmic perspective of existence. It is a narrative designed to encourage reflection on the sanctity
I was born and grew up in Poland. For ten years I studied and lived in Berlin, where I did my master degree in New German Literature, Spanish Literature and General And Comparative Literature Studies. At the same time I did my master degree in German studies in Szczecin, Poland.
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entry description
Imagine that you can peer into the depths of the human womb and grasp the intricate journey of developing life. It's as if you possess a lens that allows you to observe the process of a new universe forming within the body. Through this deeply personal project, I wish to invite you on an extraordinary expedition.At the very beginning, we perceive nothing more than a delicate bean, symbolizing the essence of life. It is something entirely extraordinary, unlike anything we have known before. Gradually, as the fetus develops, this tiny entity takes on an increasingly human form. However, this moment also resembles a cosmic odyssey, where alien visitors explore our planet for the first time. In this way, I aim to emphasize the extraordinariness and the miracle of birth.
The symbolism of colors plays a pivotal role in this narrative. The shades of red and orange represent the maternal womb, underscoring that life takes shape within a woman's body. These warm colors symbolize safety, warmth, and the love that envelops the developing fetus.
The predominant golden color within the amniotic sac symbolizes the burgeoning life. It signifies abundance, wisdom, and hidden potential, reminding us that birth is one of the most significant events in our lives.
The entire photographic project aims to showcase the importance of conscious motherhood, where the choice to become a parent is free and voluntary. It is a unique moment when a mother decides to bring new life into the world.
This project illustrates how birth is both ordinary and extraordinary, leading us on a journey from the beginning of life to full humanity. It is a story that transitions from the symbol of maternal love and warmth to a cosmic perspective of existence. It is a narrative designed to encourage reflection on the sanctity
about the photographer
Photography is my passion, obsession, a way to catch my breath. This is the part of me where I love to get lost. When it consumes me, I create my own versions of reality. Visions from my head, remembered by digital memory and postprocessed in Photoshop, become images. Raw files are like notes that only start to make up history after editing. Painting with darkness and light is a therapy and a kind of cleansing for me, getting rid of the deposits that have been in my head for a long time. The protagonists I create are full of extremes and like any human or non-human being, they can be beautiful or repugnant, joyful and suffering, yet simple and complex. Visual hallucinations often appear in my head and at the same time in photography, showing exactly what is hidden in the mind of the viewer. Childhood nightmares, phantasmagories and aeons of dreams that remain in the subconscious of each of us, adults or children, blend into the image like an enchanted marriage, creating a reflection of who I really am and maybe who are you.I was born and grew up in Poland. For ten years I studied and lived in Berlin, where I did my master degree in New German Literature, Spanish Literature and General And Comparative Literature Studies. At the same time I did my master degree in German studies in Szczecin, Poland.
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