On the edges of worlds
Humanity is already living in the third decade of the 21st century. And it would seem that today there is no area of knowledge that cannot be explored in detail online. However, the question of how our world is structured remains largely unanswered. Perhaps this is why human interest in such a spiritual cultural phenomenon as shamanism has remained relevant for centuries.
Many write about shamanism as mysticism and magic, some consider it an early form of religion, while others regard it as a unique worldview.
It is in shamanism that, since time immemorial, man has imprinted a picture of the world, structuring a unique mythology that reflects the harmonious order of existence. The idea of the interdependence of man, the forces of nature, and the spirit world lay at the heart of traditional shamanic practices. People believed in the existence of powerful otherworldly forces and sought ways to gain their favor. The shaman served as a mediator between worlds, possessing the ability to “see” another reality and travel through the sacred universe.
“On the Edge of Worlds” is a visual odyssey beyond the ordinary. This series explores how, even in the age of technology and artificial intelligence, one can find within oneself a “chosen one of the spirits"—a shaman capable of traveling between worlds.
Our reality is as we are accustomed to seeing it. For most people, the park closest to their home is simply a recreation area. But even in the most ordinary landscape, one can discover a sacred path along which a shaman penetrates the realm of the spirits.
My project is dedicated to inner transformation and the transition to other realities, omnipresent, invisible, and immortal, living deep within ourselves and alongside us. I explore contemporary mental journeys, undertaken not with the aid of a magical shamanic drum, but with a digital camera. Photography becomes a portal, lifting the veil between the mundane and the mystical, between the present and the timeless.
This series of works explores the boundaries of human imagination using visual metaphors, inviting the viewer to embark on their own journey from image to imagination. I designed the project in black and white with a subtle blue tint to visually separate the otherworldly spirit world from the familiar human world. Nothing you see in the images (except for the masks and the metal ball) was added or embellished in any way for the sake of the photograph. I simply moved forward with camera in hand, and the space itself revealed new facets of its worlds to me. The final image of the series is a collage, which also symbolizes the ambiguity of our usual reality and suggests continuing our journey simultaneously in each of the two worlds.
From 2020 to 2026.
