Small Escapes
“We think we understand the rules when we become adults but what we really experience is a narrowing of the imagination.” ―David Lynch
Reality is strange, and it allows the unexpected. We should dream bigger and let go of restrictive control of the mind. But to save our future, we should be unpretentious and want less. In our increasing dystopia, hope can feel like a joke. But there can still be fleeting yet poetic moments. Temporary escapes help me deal with everyday life. Time is our most important currency, yet it slips away. The crucial discovery is in tiny notes. We might think there is always more time, which blocks us from taking action. And to take action, we have to overcome our fear.
There may be many truths in life, depending on one’s perspective. I mix real experiences, daytime dreams, and personal notes about life to discover a peculiar hidden world. I find a strange path where inconspicuous fear, joyful lightness, ponderous indifference, and melancholic anxiety tangle into a multidimensional, vague skein. These stories happen in real locations, often hidden or discreet. Indefinite characters adventure them, a little growing girl in the leading role. We are in a wonderland close to reality. Nature and the environment are vital, yet strangely indifferent. Sometimes, animals play a supporting role as their presence serves as a metaphor.
The world is drifting toward dystopia, like a gigantic vehicle with broken brakes. Maybe our kids are here to fix it, but we are part of it too. Everyday life happens in small private moments that can be joyful, painful, or between. The intersection of these levels creates an absurd feeling of alienation. It makes me explore the obvious – my surroundings, us, and vague, bleak periods that feel significant. Something is always behind the void. Energy reflects on us as we send it into the world. How we look further away and find our path depends on our perspective, resilience, and the support we get. I heard that hope is not a feeling but a strategy to cope with life. It makes sense. Moving towards light is an active choice. The more I live, the more I understand that existence is a privilege. Playfulness and child-like curiosity are my ways of finding strength and clarity in a time full of disasters and continuous uncertainty.
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To be continued...
This series keeps on evolving slowly. It's a work in progress project, first image made in 2020. All the images are staged and shot in the locations shown in the image. Most of the images contains digital manipulation, some just color correcting. I update the gallery occasionally. Last update in January 2024.