Photographize Magazine | Issue 02

WHO WE ARE Photographize is beyond a Magazine! It’s a platform for artists, galleries, and Creatives.

We dedicate our space to all kinds of art regardless of technique or period, such as illustration, painting, digital art, photography, sculpture, and video. We aim to become a virtual place based on immediacy, where the images are presented in their pure beauty and have the ability to capture and captivate the viewer.

Have a good journey towards timeless Art.

SUBMISSIONS

www.photographize.co/submissions

SALES AND ADVERTISING E-mail: sales@photographize.co All images and text published in Photographize are the sole property of the featured authors and subject to copyright.

No image or text can be reproduced, edited, copied or distributed without the express written permission of its legal owner.

JUNE 2022 © Photographize Magazine Cover: © GIANLUCA GAMBINO

FUDO HUB LLC Photographize ISSN 2576-2648 - DIGITAL SSN 2639-5673 - PRINT www.photographize.co

CREATIVE HUB

WHO WE ARE Photographize is beyond a Magazine! It’s a platform for artists, galleries, and Creatives.

We dedicate our space to all kinds of art regardless of technique or period, such as illustration, painting, digital art, photography, sculpture, and video. We aim to become a virtual place based on immediacy, where the images are presented in their pure beauty and have the ability to capture and captivate the viewer.

Have a good journey towards timeless Art.

SUBMISSIONS

www.photographize.co/submissions

SALES AND ADVERTISING E-mail: sales@photographize.co All images and text published in Photographize are the sole property of the featured authors and subject to copyright.

No image or text can be reproduced, edited, copied or distributed without the express written permission of its legal owner.

JUNE 2022 © Photographize Magazine Cover: © GIANLUCA GAMBINO

FUDO HUB LLC Photographize ISSN 2576-2648 - DIGITAL SSN 2639-5673 - PRINT www.photographize.co

CREATIVE HUB

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FEATURED

DARIAN MEDEROS GUILLERMO LORCA GARCÍA CHRISTOPHE DELBEECKE GIANLUCA GAMBINO MARCUS CEDERBERG CARLOS BLANCO ARTERO DAVID MORENO

INTERVIEW CLAIRE THOMAS

EXPLORE

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33 NORRIS NIMAN 67 TANIA ABITBOL

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07 23 43 45 55 77

ARTICLES

FABIO VIALE OLEG OPRISCO QUXBIT ANGELO MUSCO ELMER LAAHNE JOANNA KUCIA

HIGHLIGHTS

85 CURATOR’S CHOICE 77

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03 29 39 51 61 73 81

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FEATURED

DARIAN MEDEROS GUILLERMO LORCA GARCÍA CHRISTOPHE DELBEECKE GIANLUCA GAMBINO MARCUS CEDERBERG CARLOS BLANCO ARTERO DAVID MORENO

INTERVIEW CLAIRE THOMAS

EXPLORE

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33 NORRIS NIMAN 67 TANIA ABITBOL

45

51

55

61

07 23 43 45 55 77

ARTICLES

FABIO VIALE OLEG OPRISCO QUXBIT ANGELO MUSCO ELMER LAAHNE JOANNA KUCIA

HIGHLIGHTS

85 CURATOR’S CHOICE 77

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CUBA

www.darianmederos.com Cuban prodigy, Darian Mederos work focuses on the ubiquitous human face. Emotive and replete with meaning, our faces encompass the vast human experience, revealing everything at once or Self Portrait, 2018, Oil on Linen, 40 × 30 in

nothing at all. Even in concealment, there is nuance. Our expressions cross borders, race, and culture, they are a common thread among humanity. A smile, is a smile, is a smile.

With the “Obscura Series”, Mederos creates something new, a photorealistic abstraction.

The bubble wrap reflects light and distorts the underlying image, it is only at a distance that the works come into focus. When viewed up close the

FEATURED

painted light. The artist challenges the viewer with the “Obscura Series” in asking us to understand the core of human identity, from a respectful distance.

FEATURED

faces dissolve into bold strokes of flesh tones and

Embracing Doubt, 2020, Oil on Linen, 60 × 48 in

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Ancestral, 2020, Oil on Linen, 48 × 36 in ► © Darian Mederos

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CUBA

www.darianmederos.com Cuban prodigy, Darian Mederos work focuses on the ubiquitous human face. Emotive and replete with meaning, our faces encompass the vast human experience, revealing everything at once or Self Portrait, 2018, Oil on Linen, 40 × 30 in

nothing at all. Even in concealment, there is nuance. Our expressions cross borders, race, and culture, they are a common thread among humanity. A smile, is a smile, is a smile.

With the “Obscura Series”, Mederos creates something new, a photorealistic abstraction.

The bubble wrap reflects light and distorts the underlying image, it is only at a distance that the works come into focus. When viewed up close the

FEATURED

painted light. The artist challenges the viewer with the “Obscura Series” in asking us to understand the core of human identity, from a respectful distance.

FEATURED

faces dissolve into bold strokes of flesh tones and

Embracing Doubt, 2020, Oil on Linen, 60 × 48 in

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Memories in Blue I, 2020, Oil on Linen, 28 × 22 in ► © Darian Mederos

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Portrait of an Era, 2021, Oil on linen, 48 × 36 in

The Orange Second, 2021, Oil on linen, 48 x 60 in ► © Darian Mederos

In Between, 2019, Oil on wood panel, 16 × 20 in

Sophia in Yellow Glasses, 2020, Oil on Linen, 72 × 60 in ► © Darian Mederos Girl with Flower Dress, 2021, Oil on Linen, 48 × 60 in ► © Darian Mederos 05

NEXT PAGE: Smile lll, 2021, Oil on linen, 48 × 36 in ► © Darian Mederos

Portrait of an Era, 2021, Oil on linen, 48 × 36 in

The Orange Second, 2021, Oil on linen, 48 x 60 in ► © Darian Mederos

In Between, 2019, Oil on wood panel, 16 × 20 in

Sophia in Yellow Glasses, 2020, Oil on Linen, 72 × 60 in ► © Darian Mederos Girl with Flower Dress, 2021, Oil on Linen, 48 × 60 in ► © Darian Mederos 05

NEXT PAGE: Smile lll, 2021, Oil on linen, 48 × 36 in ► © Darian Mederos

SCULPTURE www.fabioviale.it

The Marble Alchemist

by Photographize

Souvenir David 2021, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

“For me, marble is the key to everything. I couldn't think of making these pieces from any other material than marble. It's love and hate, I don't want to betray this ideal and I don't want to fight it.”

Fabio Viale is an Italian sculptor based in Turin, Italy. Graduating from The University of Turin in 2008, he specialized in contemporary sculpture and has pushed the limits of this medium ever since.

Working exclusively with the classic material of Carrara marble, his boundless creativity is defining a new era in sculpture.

Fabio’s work defies all preexisting dogmas and brings marble, the material of sculpture par excellence, to multiple new lives. His work, lies at the interface between hyper-technicism and performance art.

Technique and concept resonate to create a new reality.

Fabio is a wizard of his craft. In his hands, marble can magically turn into almost anything.

In the past, he has recreated with marble realistic textures of completely different materials such as paper, cardboard or even polystyrene. Spectators’ senses get trapped into the magnetic illusions created by Fabio’s brilliance.

In other works, Fabio recreates famous classic sculptures and decorates their skins with realistic tattoos inspired by cultures from around the world. From traditional bodysuits of the Japanese Yakuza to Russian prison tattoos, his artworks deliver a sharp contrast between the purity associated with classical sculpture and the edgy connotations of the ink body art on them. Timeless beauty and modern culture converge in Fabio’s creations.

Fabio’s unique sculptures have been showcased in New York, Basel, Miami and London, and have won several prestigious awards. His works have been curated by numerous prominent art critics, and both the public and private collectors regard him as rising star in the art world.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Amore e Psiche, 2021, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

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SCULPTURE www.fabioviale.it

The Marble Alchemist

by Photographize

Souvenir David 2021, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

“For me, marble is the key to everything. I couldn't think of making these pieces from any other material than marble. It's love and hate, I don't want to betray this ideal and I don't want to fight it.”

Fabio Viale is an Italian sculptor based in Turin, Italy. Graduating from The University of Turin in 2008, he specialized in contemporary sculpture and has pushed the limits of this medium ever since.

Working exclusively with the classic material of Carrara marble, his boundless creativity is defining a new era in sculpture.

Fabio’s work defies all preexisting dogmas and brings marble, the material of sculpture par excellence, to multiple new lives. His work, lies at the interface between hyper-technicism and performance art.

Technique and concept resonate to create a new reality.

Fabio is a wizard of his craft. In his hands, marble can magically turn into almost anything.

In the past, he has recreated with marble realistic textures of completely different materials such as paper, cardboard or even polystyrene. Spectators’ senses get trapped into the magnetic illusions created by Fabio’s brilliance.

In other works, Fabio recreates famous classic sculptures and decorates their skins with realistic tattoos inspired by cultures from around the world. From traditional bodysuits of the Japanese Yakuza to Russian prison tattoos, his artworks deliver a sharp contrast between the purity associated with classical sculpture and the edgy connotations of the ink body art on them. Timeless beauty and modern culture converge in Fabio’s creations.

Fabio’s unique sculptures have been showcased in New York, Basel, Miami and London, and have won several prestigious awards. His works have been curated by numerous prominent art critics, and both the public and private collectors regard him as rising star in the art world.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Amore e Psiche, 2021, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

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Kouros, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

Laocoonte, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale 09

Venus 2021, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

Kouros, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

NEXT PAGE: Door Release, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

Kouros, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

Laocoonte, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale 09

Venus 2021, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

Kouros, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

NEXT PAGE: Door Release, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

Il vostro sarà il nostro, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

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NEXT PAGE: Lucky Ehi, 2017, Lucky Ehi (Born in Nigeria in 1995) ► © Fabio Viale

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Il vostro sarà il nostro, white marble and pigments ► © Fabio Viale

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NEXT PAGE: Lucky Ehi, 2017, Lucky Ehi (Born in Nigeria in 1995) ► © Fabio Viale

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INTERVIEW www.clairethomasphotography.com Claire Thomas is a photojournalist and fine art photographer from Wales, currently based between the UK and New York City. Her work is inspired by humanitarian and social issues. From fine art to editorial, Claire’s approach to photography is rooted in her passion for storytelling, seeking to reflect the realities of life in a compelling, engaging, and artistic way. In pursuit of powerful and honest imagery, her work strives to convey a concept or emotion that goes beyond the image itself, providing a deeper insight into the stories and a connection with the subjects.

Claire has an impressive background, as her work has received high awards and appeared in several leading forms of media, such as The New York Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, National Geographic Magazine, The Associated Press, Al Jazeera English, and Geographical Magazine.

by Photographize What do you remember about your first steps in photography?

It was my love of horses that inadvertently sparked my interest in photography. While I was spending my summers working as a wrangler on a horse ranch in the US state of Wyoming in my early twenties, I was so stunned by the majesty of the horses against the backdrop of the area’s immense natural beauty that I couldn’t stop taking photos.

At the time, I had a small point and shoot camera and knew nothing about photography. When the ranch’s head wrangler - a man of few words praised my photos and suggested quietly that I invest in a ‘real’ camera, I was happily flattered and the seed was firmly planted in my thoughts.

From then on, I started to take a more serious interest in photography and did indeed invest in my first ‘real’ DSLR camera. While traveling and working overseas over the next few years, I gradually developed my skills, extensively researching and continuously practicing the 13 29

various techniques and settings I was learning with the help of several good books and the advice of some well-established photographers.

From all those experiences and the knowledge gained, I soon developed my own approach and visual style that reflected my personal expression as a photographer.

When did photography turn from a passion to profession? How difficult was it to make that decision? In retrospect, how do you feel about taking that leap?

As I began to realize that I had a talent for taking pictures, I started looking for ways to turn it into a profession. Of course, it took me some time to figure out how to do that, and also to decide which genre of photography I wanted to focus on.

I studied Politics at university in England, and since then I’d always felt compelled to try and see for myself the realities on the ground for the people impacted by the policies and conflicts I’d NEXT PAGE: Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

INTERVIEW www.clairethomasphotography.com Claire Thomas is a photojournalist and fine art photographer from Wales, currently based between the UK and New York City. Her work is inspired by humanitarian and social issues. From fine art to editorial, Claire’s approach to photography is rooted in her passion for storytelling, seeking to reflect the realities of life in a compelling, engaging, and artistic way. In pursuit of powerful and honest imagery, her work strives to convey a concept or emotion that goes beyond the image itself, providing a deeper insight into the stories and a connection with the subjects.

Claire has an impressive background, as her work has received high awards and appeared in several leading forms of media, such as The New York Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, National Geographic Magazine, The Associated Press, Al Jazeera English, and Geographical Magazine.

by Photographize What do you remember about your first steps in photography?

It was my love of horses that inadvertently sparked my interest in photography. While I was spending my summers working as a wrangler on a horse ranch in the US state of Wyoming in my early twenties, I was so stunned by the majesty of the horses against the backdrop of the area’s immense natural beauty that I couldn’t stop taking photos.

At the time, I had a small point and shoot camera and knew nothing about photography. When the ranch’s head wrangler - a man of few words praised my photos and suggested quietly that I invest in a ‘real’ camera, I was happily flattered and the seed was firmly planted in my thoughts.

From then on, I started to take a more serious interest in photography and did indeed invest in my first ‘real’ DSLR camera. While traveling and working overseas over the next few years, I gradually developed my skills, extensively researching and continuously practicing the 13 29

various techniques and settings I was learning with the help of several good books and the advice of some well-established photographers.

From all those experiences and the knowledge gained, I soon developed my own approach and visual style that reflected my personal expression as a photographer.

When did photography turn from a passion to profession? How difficult was it to make that decision? In retrospect, how do you feel about taking that leap?

As I began to realize that I had a talent for taking pictures, I started looking for ways to turn it into a profession. Of course, it took me some time to figure out how to do that, and also to decide which genre of photography I wanted to focus on.

I studied Politics at university in England, and since then I’d always felt compelled to try and see for myself the realities on the ground for the people impacted by the policies and conflicts I’d NEXT PAGE: Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

When I left Iraq in 2019, I decided to start working on a personal photography project that’s connected to my background and affinity with horses, exploring the relationship between equines and people whose livelihoods depend on them. To kick off the project I travelled to western Mongolia to meet and photograph the iconic Kazakh eagle hunters and horsemen of the Altai Mountains.

There, I wanted to capture a collection of images that offers a window into the culture and traditional lifestyle of the remarkable people who continue to live in an extremely remote corner of the world and who have a deep connection to nature.

studied, which is ultimately what led me to focus on photojournalism.

I’ll never forget the moment I finally made the decision to take the leap and start working professionally as a freelance photographer - at the time I was teaching English in Barcelona, Spain. One morning I woke up to an email from a photo editor at National Geographic asking for my permission to publish in the magazine a photograph I’d taken of a camel yawning in front of the Pyramids in Egypt… That single email gave me the encouragement I needed to follow my dreams, and I’ve never looked back since!

The families I met inspired me enormously, and I feel very privileged to have been able to spend time with them and to capture an insight into their lives. Despite our differences and the scope of the challenges they face, I somehow found a connection with the horsemen, and through our shared affinity with horses and the common language that creates I was reminded of my childhood in Wales, where my days were spent in the saddle, enjoying the quiet natural beauty of my surroundings, and always with a hot cup of tea waiting for me at the end of a long day.

From growing up in Wales to becoming a horse wrangler in Wyoming, horses have played a central role in your life. How have these experiences shaped your connection to nature?

Horses have been central to me since I was a child, and they’ve continued to be an important part of my life. I grew up riding and taking care of horses in the picturesque Welsh countryside, which I think helped teach me to be independent and responsible from a young age.

Living out my childhood fantasy of working as a cowgirl in a setting and culture I thought existed only in Western movies, my time in Wyoming gave me a renewed appreciation and respect for nature. While leading rides in the vast wilderness, we would encounter wildlife almost daily and I had to quickly learn how to navigate endless mountains and high-altitude deserts, often in extreme weather.

Looking back, I think working on the ranch also inadvertently helped prepare me for the strenuous physical demands of working in a war zone. With more than 90 horses to feed and take care of, ranch life was extremely physically demanding, with few home comforts and countless hours spent in the saddle.

Being close to nature is certainly where I feel most comfortable, and I’m always moved and inspired by the beauty and majesty of the natural world. I find it healing and therapeutic to be around animals and immersed in nature, so having the opportunity to photograph both animals and the environment means a great deal to me. Even while working in areas of conflict like Iraq and Palestine, I still somehow managed to find horses to ride and photograph.

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Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

You are a superb photojournalist with a unique gift for visual storytelling. At the same time, you are a remarkable artist that creates images of stunning beauty. Tell us a bit about the interplay between these two aspects of you as an artist.

Thank you so much for your kind words.

Whatever kind of photography project I’m working on, I always aim to capture images that tell a story in a compelling, engaging and sensitive way, be that in an editorial context or an artistic project.

My approach to fine art photography is grounded in my passion for storytelling, and I always strive to present an authentic and artistic expression of reality, which I see as a kind of bridge between photojournalism and fine art.

16 32

When I left Iraq in 2019, I decided to start working on a personal photography project that’s connected to my background and affinity with horses, exploring the relationship between equines and people whose livelihoods depend on them. To kick off the project I travelled to western Mongolia to meet and photograph the iconic Kazakh eagle hunters and horsemen of the Altai Mountains.

There, I wanted to capture a collection of images that offers a window into the culture and traditional lifestyle of the remarkable people who continue to live in an extremely remote corner of the world and who have a deep connection to nature.

studied, which is ultimately what led me to focus on photojournalism.

I’ll never forget the moment I finally made the decision to take the leap and start working professionally as a freelance photographer - at the time I was teaching English in Barcelona, Spain. One morning I woke up to an email from a photo editor at National Geographic asking for my permission to publish in the magazine a photograph I’d taken of a camel yawning in front of the Pyramids in Egypt… That single email gave me the encouragement I needed to follow my dreams, and I’ve never looked back since!

The families I met inspired me enormously, and I feel very privileged to have been able to spend time with them and to capture an insight into their lives. Despite our differences and the scope of the challenges they face, I somehow found a connection with the horsemen, and through our shared affinity with horses and the common language that creates I was reminded of my childhood in Wales, where my days were spent in the saddle, enjoying the quiet natural beauty of my surroundings, and always with a hot cup of tea waiting for me at the end of a long day.

From growing up in Wales to becoming a horse wrangler in Wyoming, horses have played a central role in your life. How have these experiences shaped your connection to nature?

Horses have been central to me since I was a child, and they’ve continued to be an important part of my life. I grew up riding and taking care of horses in the picturesque Welsh countryside, which I think helped teach me to be independent and responsible from a young age.

Living out my childhood fantasy of working as a cowgirl in a setting and culture I thought existed only in Western movies, my time in Wyoming gave me a renewed appreciation and respect for nature. While leading rides in the vast wilderness, we would encounter wildlife almost daily and I had to quickly learn how to navigate endless mountains and high-altitude deserts, often in extreme weather.

Looking back, I think working on the ranch also inadvertently helped prepare me for the strenuous physical demands of working in a war zone. With more than 90 horses to feed and take care of, ranch life was extremely physically demanding, with few home comforts and countless hours spent in the saddle.

Being close to nature is certainly where I feel most comfortable, and I’m always moved and inspired by the beauty and majesty of the natural world. I find it healing and therapeutic to be around animals and immersed in nature, so having the opportunity to photograph both animals and the environment means a great deal to me. Even while working in areas of conflict like Iraq and Palestine, I still somehow managed to find horses to ride and photograph.

15 31

Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

You are a superb photojournalist with a unique gift for visual storytelling. At the same time, you are a remarkable artist that creates images of stunning beauty. Tell us a bit about the interplay between these two aspects of you as an artist.

Thank you so much for your kind words.

Whatever kind of photography project I’m working on, I always aim to capture images that tell a story in a compelling, engaging and sensitive way, be that in an editorial context or an artistic project.

My approach to fine art photography is grounded in my passion for storytelling, and I always strive to present an authentic and artistic expression of reality, which I see as a kind of bridge between photojournalism and fine art.

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You have documented political and military conflicts, as well as humanitarian and environmental crises. To an outsider, many of your works seem to be lifechanging experiences. How do you deal with them and how do they transform you as a person?

I generally try not to distinguish too strongly between editorial and artistic projects – I think they actually complement each other. I use the same documentary-style approach for both, relying only on natural light and being quick to capture candid moments without directing or staging any scenes.

I hope that my images offer an insight into the lives of the people I meet and the places I visit, while helping to dispel misconceptions and stereotypes.

Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

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Documenting conflicts and humanitarian crises has certainly opened my eyes to a darker side of humanity in a visceral and haunting way. I think it’s important to maintain some degree of professional distance when working in these kinds of environments, but also to never put the profession before humanity and compassion.

I’m a very open person and I don’t try to hide my emotions, so there were times in the field clinics in Iraq where I would be emotional… For me it’s impossible to suppress my emotions when confronted by a mother crying over the body of her child… It’s ok to cry and still take the photo.

The time I spent with the frontline medics in Mosul, Iraq during the war against ISIS was definitely life-changing. I often think about those days - it certainly gave me an unforgettable insight into the harrowing human cost of conflict. When I first went to the field clinic I remember feeling extremely frustrated that I wasn’t able to do anything to help. All I could do was try my best to capture compelling

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You have documented political and military conflicts, as well as humanitarian and environmental crises. To an outsider, many of your works seem to be lifechanging experiences. How do you deal with them and how do they transform you as a person?

I generally try not to distinguish too strongly between editorial and artistic projects – I think they actually complement each other. I use the same documentary-style approach for both, relying only on natural light and being quick to capture candid moments without directing or staging any scenes.

I hope that my images offer an insight into the lives of the people I meet and the places I visit, while helping to dispel misconceptions and stereotypes.

Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

33 17

Documenting conflicts and humanitarian crises has certainly opened my eyes to a darker side of humanity in a visceral and haunting way. I think it’s important to maintain some degree of professional distance when working in these kinds of environments, but also to never put the profession before humanity and compassion.

I’m a very open person and I don’t try to hide my emotions, so there were times in the field clinics in Iraq where I would be emotional… For me it’s impossible to suppress my emotions when confronted by a mother crying over the body of her child… It’s ok to cry and still take the photo.

The time I spent with the frontline medics in Mosul, Iraq during the war against ISIS was definitely life-changing. I often think about those days - it certainly gave me an unforgettable insight into the harrowing human cost of conflict. When I first went to the field clinic I remember feeling extremely frustrated that I wasn’t able to do anything to help. All I could do was try my best to capture compelling

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images that told the story of the survivors and the victims as well as the soldiers and medics who treated the patients with unbelievable confidence and composure. There were, however, some times when I felt a compulsion to put my camera down when my immediate help was needed, or to simply hold the hand of someone who was all alone, clinging to life by a thread.

Some of your works focus on the beauty of the natural world and the cultural heritage of people around the globe. Please share with us some thoughts about these projects.

One of the most impactful moments of my time in Mosul was when a little girl was rushed into the clinic with multiple gunshot wounds and many other injuries that put her on the very edge of survival.

As a freelancer, I feel very fortunate that I have the freedom and flexibility to photograph the subjects and stories I’m drawn to. I’ve always been fascinated to learn about different cultures and their customs, driven by an unrelenting curiosity to see and understand the diversity of humanity and our shared world.

Within seconds of arriving at the clinic, Katie Batrouney, a young paramedic from Australia, dressed the child’s wounds, stemming the bleeding to buy her some precious time to reach a hospital.

As Katie carried the child out into the street in search of an ambulance, I set my camera aside and jumped into the ambulance with Katie and the gravely injured child hoping that I might be able to help in some way or at least offer my support. As the ambulance sped along the dusty, abandoned, war-torn streets of western Mosul, the child’s terror-filled screams began to weaken until she eventually stopped breathing. With no gurney or medical supplies inside the ambulance, Katie placed the bleeding child onto my lap and instructed me to hold her still while she inserted a needle into her chest, allowing air back into her collapsed lung.

Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

I really love photographing beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and people from diverse backgrounds.

As with storytelling, I use the same approach, with patience and intuition being key factors in ensuring I’m ready to capture the split second when a ray of light pierces through the clouds, or a lion looks directly at me, or a person’s expression tells the whole story in a single frame.

In contrast to the scenes of conflict and suffering I’ve photographed, I think projects that focus on culture and nature are an important opportunity to document our rapidly changing world, and to illustrate the uniqueness of what could be lost if we fail to preserve and protect our environment for future generations.

Having a broad scope of photographic subjects helps me keep a healthy balance and gives me a chance to mentally process some of the more challenging subjects and scenes I’ve photographed. It’s a form of catharsis for me to see beauty through the lens, not just tragedy.

How do you plan and execute your shots?

Undoubtedly, those experiences have had an impact on me. However, I’m always cognizant of the fact that I made the choice to be there - I wasn’t trapped in the middle of a bloody conflict like the residents of Mosul, and I could leave and return to safety at any time.

I’m a big fan of making lists.. When I come across a story or issue that resonates with me, my mind immediately starts to envision the kind of images that I think would best illustrate it.

I then research the subject beforehand and prepare the logistics of obtaining access and the operational details of going out to get the images and story.

I also try to remember more the heroism of the medics who risked their lives to save others, the soldiers who made sure I was safe and hydrated, and the families who made me smile and invited me to share their delicious meals every evening. It is true, I believe, that where you see the worst of humanity you very often see the best of humanity. I try to focus on remembering the best.

I often make a preliminary wish list of all the photos I’d like to capture to highlight all the elements of the story, whether it’s an editorial or purely artistic project.

I’ll never forget the terrified look on that poor little girl’s face as I held her on my blood-soaked lap.

I may not have a photograph of that moment, but it will be etched into my memory forever.

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images that told the story of the survivors and the victims as well as the soldiers and medics who treated the patients with unbelievable confidence and composure. There were, however, some times when I felt a compulsion to put my camera down when my immediate help was needed, or to simply hold the hand of someone who was all alone, clinging to life by a thread.

Some of your works focus on the beauty of the natural world and the cultural heritage of people around the globe. Please share with us some thoughts about these projects.

One of the most impactful moments of my time in Mosul was when a little girl was rushed into the clinic with multiple gunshot wounds and many other injuries that put her on the very edge of survival.

As a freelancer, I feel very fortunate that I have the freedom and flexibility to photograph the subjects and stories I’m drawn to. I’ve always been fascinated to learn about different cultures and their customs, driven by an unrelenting curiosity to see and understand the diversity of humanity and our shared world.

Within seconds of arriving at the clinic, Katie Batrouney, a young paramedic from Australia, dressed the child’s wounds, stemming the bleeding to buy her some precious time to reach a hospital.

As Katie carried the child out into the street in search of an ambulance, I set my camera aside and jumped into the ambulance with Katie and the gravely injured child hoping that I might be able to help in some way or at least offer my support. As the ambulance sped along the dusty, abandoned, war-torn streets of western Mosul, the child’s terror-filled screams began to weaken until she eventually stopped breathing. With no gurney or medical supplies inside the ambulance, Katie placed the bleeding child onto my lap and instructed me to hold her still while she inserted a needle into her chest, allowing air back into her collapsed lung.

Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

I really love photographing beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and people from diverse backgrounds.

As with storytelling, I use the same approach, with patience and intuition being key factors in ensuring I’m ready to capture the split second when a ray of light pierces through the clouds, or a lion looks directly at me, or a person’s expression tells the whole story in a single frame.

In contrast to the scenes of conflict and suffering I’ve photographed, I think projects that focus on culture and nature are an important opportunity to document our rapidly changing world, and to illustrate the uniqueness of what could be lost if we fail to preserve and protect our environment for future generations.

Having a broad scope of photographic subjects helps me keep a healthy balance and gives me a chance to mentally process some of the more challenging subjects and scenes I’ve photographed. It’s a form of catharsis for me to see beauty through the lens, not just tragedy.

How do you plan and execute your shots?

Undoubtedly, those experiences have had an impact on me. However, I’m always cognizant of the fact that I made the choice to be there - I wasn’t trapped in the middle of a bloody conflict like the residents of Mosul, and I could leave and return to safety at any time.

I’m a big fan of making lists.. When I come across a story or issue that resonates with me, my mind immediately starts to envision the kind of images that I think would best illustrate it.

I then research the subject beforehand and prepare the logistics of obtaining access and the operational details of going out to get the images and story.

I also try to remember more the heroism of the medics who risked their lives to save others, the soldiers who made sure I was safe and hydrated, and the families who made me smile and invited me to share their delicious meals every evening. It is true, I believe, that where you see the worst of humanity you very often see the best of humanity. I try to focus on remembering the best.

I often make a preliminary wish list of all the photos I’d like to capture to highlight all the elements of the story, whether it’s an editorial or purely artistic project.

I’ll never forget the terrified look on that poor little girl’s face as I held her on my blood-soaked lap.

I may not have a photograph of that moment, but it will be etched into my memory forever.

19

36

I don’t stage any of my photos and I use only natural light, so I try to spend as much time as possible on each project. This allows more time to capture photographs, and, more importantly, to get to know the people involved in the story normally over several cups of tea - and to make them feel comfortable with me, which makes for a more enjoyable experience for everyone and, of course, more natural and authentic images.

visual voice is key. The rest should follow with unrelenting determination, patience and a touch of good fortune.

You have seen more of the world and the multiple facets of life than most of us. What are your hopes for the future of humanity?

The world truly does hold an immeasurable amount of beauty. Sadly, recent global affairs make it difficult to be overly optimistic right now for our common future and the peaceful preservation of our planet. However, I’m always inspired by people I meet in countries like Iraq and Palestine, who, despite living through years of conflict and unrest remain hopeful of seeing a more peaceful future free from violence and discrimination. Those individual struggles for a better tomorrow strengthen my hopes for humanity as a whole.

Your work has been celebrated by some of the most distinguished publications and organizations in the world, including the New York Times, National Geographic and Amnesty International. How does this recognition motivate you moving forward?

It means the world to me and certainly motivates me to continue doing what I’m doing. I’ll be forever grateful to National Geographic for inspiring me to pursue my passion and a profession that is incredibly rewarding and means so much to me. Having my work featured in the New York Times is really another dream come true, and a great source of continued motivation.

Ultimately, I’m optimistic by nature, so I try to focus on the positive developments and increased collective consciousness that manifests in things like shared efforts aimed at addressing climate change, medical advancements that help save lives, and steps towards greater empowerment of women and girls.

What are your thoughts on the new avenues for the creation and dissemination of art that become possible thanks to new technologies?

Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

I’m very excited about the future of the art industry, especially with regards to the NFT space, which I think gives digital artwork more value and a platform it deserves. It’s truly transformative, and it’s great to see that as things shift more towards the virtual realm that art is not being left behind. Art remains an embodiment and documentation of humanity, and I think it’s very exciting that NFTs are providing a secure way of selling and storing digital art.

That said, I think there will always be a demand and desire for physical artwork – the virtual and the physical realms are not mutually exclusive.

What advice do you have for those thinking about dedicating their lives to art?

I think the main thing is to be persistent and follow your heart. There’s no obvious road map to success as an artist, but finding your own 31 21

What is the next dream for your artistic journey?

I’m excited about many future projects. In May I’m moving from New York to Cairo where I’m hoping to pursue many visually compelling stories related to the country’s incredible culture and history. It was that picture of the yawning camel by the pyramids that launched my professional career after all!

From Egypt I’m looking forward to re-visiting Iraq and seeing how things have changed since I left in 2019. I’m also hoping to revisit several countries in Africa that are dear to my heart, in particular Ghana and Mozambique, but this may be pushed till later in the year depending on plans that I am currently exploring to head to Ukraine over the summer.

Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

In July I’m planning to return to Mongolia to visit different parts of the country and to meet the Dukha people, who are semi-nomadic reindeer herders in the northernmost province of Mongolia. I will be selecting some of those images to add to those already offered for sale as limited edition prints through my website.

I also have a photo book that is scheduled to be released next year with a collection of images of the Kazakh people in Mongolia.

One of the things I’m most excited about is entering the NFT space very soon!

32 22

I don’t stage any of my photos and I use only natural light, so I try to spend as much time as possible on each project. This allows more time to capture photographs, and, more importantly, to get to know the people involved in the story normally over several cups of tea - and to make them feel comfortable with me, which makes for a more enjoyable experience for everyone and, of course, more natural and authentic images.

visual voice is key. The rest should follow with unrelenting determination, patience and a touch of good fortune.

You have seen more of the world and the multiple facets of life than most of us. What are your hopes for the future of humanity?

The world truly does hold an immeasurable amount of beauty. Sadly, recent global affairs make it difficult to be overly optimistic right now for our common future and the peaceful preservation of our planet. However, I’m always inspired by people I meet in countries like Iraq and Palestine, who, despite living through years of conflict and unrest remain hopeful of seeing a more peaceful future free from violence and discrimination. Those individual struggles for a better tomorrow strengthen my hopes for humanity as a whole.

Your work has been celebrated by some of the most distinguished publications and organizations in the world, including the New York Times, National Geographic and Amnesty International. How does this recognition motivate you moving forward?

It means the world to me and certainly motivates me to continue doing what I’m doing. I’ll be forever grateful to National Geographic for inspiring me to pursue my passion and a profession that is incredibly rewarding and means so much to me. Having my work featured in the New York Times is really another dream come true, and a great source of continued motivation.

Ultimately, I’m optimistic by nature, so I try to focus on the positive developments and increased collective consciousness that manifests in things like shared efforts aimed at addressing climate change, medical advancements that help save lives, and steps towards greater empowerment of women and girls.

What are your thoughts on the new avenues for the creation and dissemination of art that become possible thanks to new technologies?

Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

I’m very excited about the future of the art industry, especially with regards to the NFT space, which I think gives digital artwork more value and a platform it deserves. It’s truly transformative, and it’s great to see that as things shift more towards the virtual realm that art is not being left behind. Art remains an embodiment and documentation of humanity, and I think it’s very exciting that NFTs are providing a secure way of selling and storing digital art.

That said, I think there will always be a demand and desire for physical artwork – the virtual and the physical realms are not mutually exclusive.

What advice do you have for those thinking about dedicating their lives to art?

I think the main thing is to be persistent and follow your heart. There’s no obvious road map to success as an artist, but finding your own 31 21

What is the next dream for your artistic journey?

I’m excited about many future projects. In May I’m moving from New York to Cairo where I’m hoping to pursue many visually compelling stories related to the country’s incredible culture and history. It was that picture of the yawning camel by the pyramids that launched my professional career after all!

From Egypt I’m looking forward to re-visiting Iraq and seeing how things have changed since I left in 2019. I’m also hoping to revisit several countries in Africa that are dear to my heart, in particular Ghana and Mozambique, but this may be pushed till later in the year depending on plans that I am currently exploring to head to Ukraine over the summer.

Altai, Mongolia ► © Claire Thomas

In July I’m planning to return to Mongolia to visit different parts of the country and to meet the Dukha people, who are semi-nomadic reindeer herders in the northernmost province of Mongolia. I will be selecting some of those images to add to those already offered for sale as limited edition prints through my website.

I also have a photo book that is scheduled to be released next year with a collection of images of the Kazakh people in Mongolia.

One of the things I’m most excited about is entering the NFT space very soon!

32 22

ARTICLE Living at the Delicate Edge of Reality

by Photographize Oleg Oprisco is a renowned fine art photographer born in Lviv, Ukraine. In an era overwhelmed by digital technology, Oleg reminds us of the essence of photography, shooting his photographs in medium format film. Over the years, he developed a deep understanding of the multiple dimensions behind an unforgettable image.

From photographic processing to wardrobe and props, Oleg masterfully controls every aspect of the process. Not surprisingly, his images project a profound feeling of timelessness.

His creations stand out for their beautiful color palettes. This is not a coincidence. At 16, he started working at a small photo lab, where he spent countless hours adjusting color, brightness, and contrast of picture after picture.

He also confesses that attending thousands of birthdays, weddings, and special occasions with an inquisitive mind, helped him discover the colors people like. Years of this curiosity driven approach resulted in his recognizable style.

Through the composition, unusual combination of elements and stories, Oleg’s photographs are delicately surreal. They live at the narrow edge between reality and imagination. In his words: “All my pictures are the best pictures of our lives and dreams.”

► © Oleg Oprisco

11

www.oprisco.com

ARTICLE Living at the Delicate Edge of Reality

by Photographize Oleg Oprisco is a renowned fine art photographer born in Lviv, Ukraine. In an era overwhelmed by digital technology, Oleg reminds us of the essence of photography, shooting his photographs in medium format film. Over the years, he developed a deep understanding of the multiple dimensions behind an unforgettable image.

From photographic processing to wardrobe and props, Oleg masterfully controls every aspect of the process. Not surprisingly, his images project a profound feeling of timelessness.

His creations stand out for their beautiful color palettes. This is not a coincidence. At 16, he started working at a small photo lab, where he spent countless hours adjusting color, brightness, and contrast of picture after picture.

He also confesses that attending thousands of birthdays, weddings, and special occasions with an inquisitive mind, helped him discover the colors people like. Years of this curiosity driven approach resulted in his recognizable style.

Through the composition, unusual combination of elements and stories, Oleg’s photographs are delicately surreal. They live at the narrow edge between reality and imagination. In his words: “All my pictures are the best pictures of our lives and dreams.”

► © Oleg Oprisco

11

www.oprisco.com

► © Oleg Oprisco

21

► © Oleg Oprisco

21

Image: shutterstock_665037205

Image: shutterstock_665037205

CHILE

The Landing, 2019 40 x 110 cm. ► © Guillermo Lorca García

FEATURED

www.guillermolorca.cl

Guillermo Lorca García is a Chilean painter who is well-known for his fine art baroque style.

Guillermo’s paintings play with mixed elements, such as sensuality, innocence, childhood. Showing us instincts, primitive feelings, and sensations, he wants us to see the link between humans, animals, and natural elements displaying a reality that looks like a fairy tale.

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NEXT PAGE: Laura and the dogs, 200 x 150 cm. ► © Guillermo Lorca García

La fiesta de Yaksha, 180 x 300 cm. ► © Guillermo Lorca García

Guillermo takes nature to the extreme and reproduces reality the way he perceives it - insisting on details. And there’s a concept for that – hyperrealism mixed up with realism. Guillermo observes reality and the relationship between humans and the environment and attaches them to psychological analysis. He talks about the link between human reality, animal reality, and plant reality. By doing so, he depicts three major characteristics: the cruelty of life, its purity, and its physical temptations.

CHILE

The Landing, 2019 40 x 110 cm. ► © Guillermo Lorca García

FEATURED

www.guillermolorca.cl

Guillermo Lorca García is a Chilean painter who is well-known for his fine art baroque style.

Guillermo’s paintings play with mixed elements, such as sensuality, innocence, childhood. Showing us instincts, primitive feelings, and sensations, he wants us to see the link between humans, animals, and natural elements displaying a reality that looks like a fairy tale.

29

NEXT PAGE: Laura and the dogs, 200 x 150 cm. ► © Guillermo Lorca García

La fiesta de Yaksha, 180 x 300 cm. ► © Guillermo Lorca García

Guillermo takes nature to the extreme and reproduces reality the way he perceives it - insisting on details. And there’s a concept for that – hyperrealism mixed up with realism. Guillermo observes reality and the relationship between humans and the environment and attaches them to psychological analysis. He talks about the link between human reality, animal reality, and plant reality. By doing so, he depicts three major characteristics: the cruelty of life, its purity, and its physical temptations.

The English Bed, 110 x 100 cm ► © Guillermo Lorca García

The Banquet. 250 x 206 cm ► © Guillermo Lorca García

The Hunting, 200 x 150 cm ► © Guillermo Lorca García

07

The Healer ► © Guillermo Lorca García

PREVIOUS PAGE: Deep Blue ► © Guillermo Lorca García

The Banquet. 250 x 206 cm ► © Guillermo Lorca García

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The English Bed, 110 x 100 cm ► © Guillermo Lorca García

The Banquet. 250 x 206 cm ► © Guillermo Lorca García

The Hunting, 200 x 150 cm ► © Guillermo Lorca García

07

The Healer ► © Guillermo Lorca García

PREVIOUS PAGE: Deep Blue ► © Guillermo Lorca García

The Banquet. 250 x 206 cm ► © Guillermo Lorca García

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EXPLORE Forbidden Coast of Greenland www.norrisniman.com

Dream Day ► © Norris Niman

Just Dipping Their Feet ► © Norris Niman

by Photographize

Ancient One ► © Norris Niman

"No place on Earth is as fiercely protected as the inner sanctum of Greenland’s east coast. Guarded by millions of broken glacial pieces forming an almost impenetrable wall of cruise ship sized icebergs, while hundreds of jagged peaks shoot straight out of the ocean as far as the eye can see along the coast. All telling you - This is not a place for humans. This is not planet Earth anymore.

Still, we set out on an ambitious expedition to sail the Forbidden Coast. Sneaking past the hordes of ice waiting there to crush us, finding our way between the towering fjords, taking shelter in the little that the bays offered against the extreme elements. If something went wrong, we were truly on our own. This land can not be tamed, this coast remains forbidden, but we survived to share its story the best we can.” - Norris Niman PREVIOUS PAGE: They Are Watching Us ► © Norris Niman

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EXPLORE Forbidden Coast of Greenland www.norrisniman.com

Dream Day ► © Norris Niman

Just Dipping Their Feet ► © Norris Niman

by Photographize

Ancient One ► © Norris Niman

"No place on Earth is as fiercely protected as the inner sanctum of Greenland’s east coast. Guarded by millions of broken glacial pieces forming an almost impenetrable wall of cruise ship sized icebergs, while hundreds of jagged peaks shoot straight out of the ocean as far as the eye can see along the coast. All telling you - This is not a place for humans. This is not planet Earth anymore.

Still, we set out on an ambitious expedition to sail the Forbidden Coast. Sneaking past the hordes of ice waiting there to crush us, finding our way between the towering fjords, taking shelter in the little that the bays offered against the extreme elements. If something went wrong, we were truly on our own. This land can not be tamed, this coast remains forbidden, but we survived to share its story the best we can.” - Norris Niman PREVIOUS PAGE: They Are Watching Us ► © Norris Niman

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For a taste of wild nature, photogenic places, and untamed landscapes, Swedish awardwinning photographer Norris Niman exceeds our expectations. Based in Iceland, Norris creates some of the most stunning and Greenland imagery there is to offer.

Norris is a Nikon Z Creator, and professional adventurer roaming the world since 2011.

His work is built on the excitement of the outdoors, the peace in nature, the harsh north, and the lifestyle of the adventurer. In search of wild, remote destinations and offbeat landscapes, Norris tries to place his subjects in unreal and vast environments that really spark emotions in the viewer.

It took Norris a long time to realize that photography was the art form he needed to break free. Thanks to photography, Norris is able to portray the world as he sees it—not necessarily looking for realism, but rather the playful impact a subject can have on the environment around him. Moving to Iceland made a real difference in his life. With a solid career in an office designing apps and living in an apartment in Stockholm, nature was not surely in his plans. What was supposed to be a six-month scuba dive-related job turned into a lifestyle of captivating moments capturing the cold and wild nature of Iceland and its surroundings.

These Might Bite ► © Norris Niman

With his photographs, Norris tries to show a unique world that many may considerer hostile.

It's true that there is that fear of the unknown, which holds individuals back and keeps them in their comfort zone, however, what Norris hopes is to convey that these places are completely safe and ready to be explored.

"I still feel most home when shooting glaciers.

It’s their ever-changing nature that creates opportunities that are forever unique. A bit like these photo-famous landscapes that every photographer has snapped at some point of their career, except you’re the only one who has, and it can never be re-created.” - Norris Niman PREVIOUS PAGE: It Fits Somewhere ► © Norris Niman

11

Not Just The Tip ► © Norris Niman 36

For a taste of wild nature, photogenic places, and untamed landscapes, Swedish awardwinning photographer Norris Niman exceeds our expectations. Based in Iceland, Norris creates some of the most stunning and Greenland imagery there is to offer.

Norris is a Nikon Z Creator, and professional adventurer roaming the world since 2011.

His work is built on the excitement of the outdoors, the peace in nature, the harsh north, and the lifestyle of the adventurer. In search of wild, remote destinations and offbeat landscapes, Norris tries to place his subjects in unreal and vast environments that really spark emotions in the viewer.

It took Norris a long time to realize that photography was the art form he needed to break free. Thanks to photography, Norris is able to portray the world as he sees it—not necessarily looking for realism, but rather the playful impact a subject can have on the environment around him. Moving to Iceland made a real difference in his life. With a solid career in an office designing apps and living in an apartment in Stockholm, nature was not surely in his plans. What was supposed to be a six-month scuba dive-related job turned into a lifestyle of captivating moments capturing the cold and wild nature of Iceland and its surroundings.

These Might Bite ► © Norris Niman

With his photographs, Norris tries to show a unique world that many may considerer hostile.

It's true that there is that fear of the unknown, which holds individuals back and keeps them in their comfort zone, however, what Norris hopes is to convey that these places are completely safe and ready to be explored.

"I still feel most home when shooting glaciers.

It’s their ever-changing nature that creates opportunities that are forever unique. A bit like these photo-famous landscapes that every photographer has snapped at some point of their career, except you’re the only one who has, and it can never be re-created.” - Norris Niman PREVIOUS PAGE: It Fits Somewhere ► © Norris Niman

11

Not Just The Tip ► © Norris Niman 36

GM Greenland ► © Norris Niman

Leaving Earth ► © Norris Niman

Glacial Claws ► © Norris Niman

Storm Cliffs ► © Norris Niman

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NEXT PAGE: The Dark Frost ► © Norris Niman

46

GM Greenland ► © Norris Niman

Leaving Earth ► © Norris Niman

Glacial Claws ► © Norris Niman

Storm Cliffs ► © Norris Niman

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NEXT PAGE: The Dark Frost ► © Norris Niman

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BELGIUM

www.instagram.com/christophe_delbeecke

Innerside, 2021, Mirror polished resin with pearl finish, knife, foam, metal 40 × 40 × 8.9 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

Christophe Delbeecke (b. 1975, Menin) is a sculptor based in Belgium. His passion for art started when he was studying ceramics at the Academy of Fine Art in Ypres. He liked to work with clay, and still today, but while experimenting with other materials, he discovered a lot of new possibilities. Christophe loves to use everyday objects in his work because their banality offers a lot of different possibilities.

"We are so used to these kinds of objects that just a small modification can give them a totally new

Here's Johnny, 2019, Mirror polished resin with black pearl finish with axe 25.4 × 39.4 × 20.3 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

meaning, giving us the chance to create something new and original … I love paradoxical things because they push us to meditate and think in a deeper way." the artist implies. With the “Balloon Series”

FEATURED

between the balloons and the sharp objects, which upsets the “pre-installed software” of our brains. In fact, we think that the image we are looking at is actually impossible, but still, it exists … The message behind my artworks is very paradoxical as well – it can be positive and full of hope like, for Eternal Love, 2021 Mirror polished deep black epoxy 20cm x20cm x20cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

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FEATURED

Christophe wanted to materialize the tension

instance, “Nothing can beat me”, but once you switch the objects it can get really negative and hopeless.”

Split Second (bleu), 2021 Mirror polished resin with pearl finish, knife 35.6 × 25.4 × 25.4 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

40

BELGIUM

www.instagram.com/christophe_delbeecke

Innerside, 2021, Mirror polished resin with pearl finish, knife, foam, metal 40 × 40 × 8.9 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

Christophe Delbeecke (b. 1975, Menin) is a sculptor based in Belgium. His passion for art started when he was studying ceramics at the Academy of Fine Art in Ypres. He liked to work with clay, and still today, but while experimenting with other materials, he discovered a lot of new possibilities. Christophe loves to use everyday objects in his work because their banality offers a lot of different possibilities.

"We are so used to these kinds of objects that just a small modification can give them a totally new

Here's Johnny, 2019, Mirror polished resin with black pearl finish with axe 25.4 × 39.4 × 20.3 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

meaning, giving us the chance to create something new and original … I love paradoxical things because they push us to meditate and think in a deeper way." the artist implies. With the “Balloon Series”

FEATURED

between the balloons and the sharp objects, which upsets the “pre-installed software” of our brains. In fact, we think that the image we are looking at is actually impossible, but still, it exists … The message behind my artworks is very paradoxical as well – it can be positive and full of hope like, for Eternal Love, 2021 Mirror polished deep black epoxy 20cm x20cm x20cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

39

FEATURED

Christophe wanted to materialize the tension

instance, “Nothing can beat me”, but once you switch the objects it can get really negative and hopeless.”

Split Second (bleu), 2021 Mirror polished resin with pearl finish, knife 35.6 × 25.4 × 25.4 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

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Ballon avec hache (rose), 2021, Mirror polished resin with pearl finish, cleaver 15.2 × 25.4 × 25.4 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

Ballon avec couteau (blanc), 2021, Mirror polished resin with pearl finish, knife 35.6 × 25.4 × 25.4 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

Ballon avec hache (bleu), 2021 Mirror polished resin with pearl finish, cleaver 15.2 × 25.4 × 25.4 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

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PREVIOUS PAGE: Ballon avec fil de fer barbelé, 2018, Barbed wire, mirror polished resins 30 × 20 × 20 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

42

Ballon avec hache (rose), 2021, Mirror polished resin with pearl finish, cleaver 15.2 × 25.4 × 25.4 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

Ballon avec couteau (blanc), 2021, Mirror polished resin with pearl finish, knife 35.6 × 25.4 × 25.4 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

Ballon avec hache (bleu), 2021 Mirror polished resin with pearl finish, cleaver 15.2 × 25.4 × 25.4 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

49

PREVIOUS PAGE: Ballon avec fil de fer barbelé, 2018, Barbed wire, mirror polished resins 30 × 20 × 20 cm ► © Christophe Delbeecke

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Mathematical Art: Math Skulls

www.instagram.com/quxbit

Fire skull

QuXbit lives in an entangled state between a theoretical physicist by day and a digital artist by night. These two facets power each other since artists and scientists are driven by a similar quest for beauty and inspiration.

Hypno Skull

Math, geometry, and symmetry form the language in which the greatest masterpiece of all times, our Universe, is written. All patterns of reality, from the wings of a butterfly to the ripples in spacetime, emerge from the cosmic interplay between numbers. QuXbit’s works are entirely created in terms of mathematical equations that guide geometric constructions, very much like the strokes of a painter’s brush.

The Math Skulls series symbolize our human essence, its persistence in time and the power of ideas.

Dragon Skull

American Skull

Mathematical Art: Math Skulls

www.instagram.com/quxbit

Fire skull

QuXbit lives in an entangled state between a theoretical physicist by day and a digital artist by night. These two facets power each other since artists and scientists are driven by a similar quest for beauty and inspiration.

Hypno Skull

Math, geometry, and symmetry form the language in which the greatest masterpiece of all times, our Universe, is written. All patterns of reality, from the wings of a butterfly to the ripples in spacetime, emerge from the cosmic interplay between numbers. QuXbit’s works are entirely created in terms of mathematical equations that guide geometric constructions, very much like the strokes of a painter’s brush.

The Math Skulls series symbolize our human essence, its persistence in time and the power of ideas.

Dragon Skull

American Skull

ARTICLE

The Land of Scars is the most personal and autobiographical artwork to date. Prior to starting this piece, images of Feathers and Flowers inspired by Egyptian Mythology drove an ongoing visual story where each chapter feeds from the previous work.

The ancient Egyptian’s believed that in order to get into Heaven, a lush Garden, at the end of your life, your heart was weighed against a feather and if it was lighter than the feather, you’d pass into a blissful afterlife full of vibrant flowers and vegetation (Aaru) but if you had a heavy or dark heart, you would not.

THE LAND OF SCARS

by Photographize

www.angelomusco.com

Turning reality upside down and creating works that run counter to preconceived ideas are part of Angelo Musco’s artistic strategies.

Angelo Musco is an Italian contemporary artist, best known for photographic surreal landscapes built by thousands of nude bodies, where the natural architectures and visionary landscapes are filled with the haunting mysticism of his own origins. The human body progressively dominates his work, weaving and connecting masses of nudes to create constructions that are literal or symbolic representations of eggs, nests, amniotic liquid and other inspirations from the miracle of procreation.

Though currently based in New York, Angelo’s work has been executed state-side and internationally, staging his shoots from London, to Buenos Aires from the Red Woods CA to such exotic locations as Baku and Istanbul. His work, approaching epic proportions, has been displayed throughout the world, including Art Basel and the Venice Biennale.

11

That idea of what happens to all the people with heavy hearts fills the imagination of the Artist and causes him to look at his own heart and contemplate all the people who have left a mark on him.

The research for the work led to the deserts, canyons and riverbeds of Utah, Arizona and Nevada, and days spent hiking in silence, absorbing the magic, the warmth, and the whispering messages of the wind. Observing, touching, smelling, immersing, reshaped memories, emotions both forgotten and abandoned from many places inside, presenting an emotional diary made of multiple layers of history, layers, and layers like the rock face of an epic canyon.

In those beautiful massive, eroded lands, weathered over millions of years, there is a history captured in thousands of stratified layers of the rock. This natural beauty impacted the concept and ultimately the construction of an image as the vision of this work evolved to display a stratification of a personal history and the weight found within memories and the heart.

This research trip forced the aesthetic of the art piece and merges the concept of a massive, majestic landscape detailing the complexity of weathered rocks as a way to communicate the stratification of time, weight, memories, strength, and life’s challenges. The canyons, gorges and cliffs provide a natural architecture to highlight and feature the key characters as the light finds their faces and bodies in the overhangs, rock faces, crags, and fissures of a monumental escarpment of humanity while other masses of nudes related to thoughts and emotions are meld and merged like a lava flow connecting everything together

The Land of Scars ► © Angelo Musco

ARTICLE

The Land of Scars is the most personal and autobiographical artwork to date. Prior to starting this piece, images of Feathers and Flowers inspired by Egyptian Mythology drove an ongoing visual story where each chapter feeds from the previous work.

The ancient Egyptian’s believed that in order to get into Heaven, a lush Garden, at the end of your life, your heart was weighed against a feather and if it was lighter than the feather, you’d pass into a blissful afterlife full of vibrant flowers and vegetation (Aaru) but if you had a heavy or dark heart, you would not.

THE LAND OF SCARS

by Photographize

www.angelomusco.com

Turning reality upside down and creating works that run counter to preconceived ideas are part of Angelo Musco’s artistic strategies.

Angelo Musco is an Italian contemporary artist, best known for photographic surreal landscapes built by thousands of nude bodies, where the natural architectures and visionary landscapes are filled with the haunting mysticism of his own origins. The human body progressively dominates his work, weaving and connecting masses of nudes to create constructions that are literal or symbolic representations of eggs, nests, amniotic liquid and other inspirations from the miracle of procreation.

Though currently based in New York, Angelo’s work has been executed state-side and internationally, staging his shoots from London, to Buenos Aires from the Red Woods CA to such exotic locations as Baku and Istanbul. His work, approaching epic proportions, has been displayed throughout the world, including Art Basel and the Venice Biennale.

11

That idea of what happens to all the people with heavy hearts fills the imagination of the Artist and causes him to look at his own heart and contemplate all the people who have left a mark on him.

The research for the work led to the deserts, canyons and riverbeds of Utah, Arizona and Nevada, and days spent hiking in silence, absorbing the magic, the warmth, and the whispering messages of the wind. Observing, touching, smelling, immersing, reshaped memories, emotions both forgotten and abandoned from many places inside, presenting an emotional diary made of multiple layers of history, layers, and layers like the rock face of an epic canyon.

In those beautiful massive, eroded lands, weathered over millions of years, there is a history captured in thousands of stratified layers of the rock. This natural beauty impacted the concept and ultimately the construction of an image as the vision of this work evolved to display a stratification of a personal history and the weight found within memories and the heart.

This research trip forced the aesthetic of the art piece and merges the concept of a massive, majestic landscape detailing the complexity of weathered rocks as a way to communicate the stratification of time, weight, memories, strength, and life’s challenges. The canyons, gorges and cliffs provide a natural architecture to highlight and feature the key characters as the light finds their faces and bodies in the overhangs, rock faces, crags, and fissures of a monumental escarpment of humanity while other masses of nudes related to thoughts and emotions are meld and merged like a lava flow connecting everything together

The Land of Scars ► © Angelo Musco

Early in the process the Artist decided for the first time to include his own body, step in front of the camera and show not only the scars of his birth but that of a freak accident that broke his right Humorous bone in 2018.

There is an emotional intensity in exploring and looking back at the faces and memories of the people who have left their mark on you and it can feel as if many of those people are stuck in your mind, desiring to break free which this work conveys by contorted body positions and facial expressions as they attempt to break out of a shear rock face where they find themselves trapped.”

Breaking open the mythology of a heavy heart or a heart as cold as stone, gives the impetus to unflinchingly show a life’s worth of emotional scares as an historic concept. Ex-lovers, friends, and family were invited to pose for this intimate work, together with followers, fans, and past models.

This work puts the attention on the real marks in life, with faces, eyes, and expressions, immortalizing on paper what is already imprint in the emotional soul.

47

The Land of Scars, details ► © Angelo Musco

Realizing this concept for the work also required both domestic and international travel to photograph and create the necessary material. Construction continued despite the Covid-19 Pandemic adding a complicating layer into the stratification of the rocks due to the unexpected factors of working remotely, coordinate with assistants remotely and document new people and missing models at a time when many people where not traveling. This world event forced unconventional ways of working due to health concerns and travel restrictions which also is part of the piece and part of this story.

The piece is 40’ long by 12’ high. This journey, sometimes was virtual, going around the world to meet and photograph the people from the past. Many of those people understandably have moved on emotionally and physically with their lives creating a more varied and dramatic perspective within the faces and story that is The Land of Scars.

Link for the trailer: https://bit.ly/38ErSY3

NEXT P[AGE: The Land of Scars, details ► © Angelo Musco

48

Early in the process the Artist decided for the first time to include his own body, step in front of the camera and show not only the scars of his birth but that of a freak accident that broke his right Humorous bone in 2018.

There is an emotional intensity in exploring and looking back at the faces and memories of the people who have left their mark on you and it can feel as if many of those people are stuck in your mind, desiring to break free which this work conveys by contorted body positions and facial expressions as they attempt to break out of a shear rock face where they find themselves trapped.”

Breaking open the mythology of a heavy heart or a heart as cold as stone, gives the impetus to unflinchingly show a life’s worth of emotional scares as an historic concept. Ex-lovers, friends, and family were invited to pose for this intimate work, together with followers, fans, and past models.

This work puts the attention on the real marks in life, with faces, eyes, and expressions, immortalizing on paper what is already imprint in the emotional soul.

47

The Land of Scars, details ► © Angelo Musco

Realizing this concept for the work also required both domestic and international travel to photograph and create the necessary material. Construction continued despite the Covid-19 Pandemic adding a complicating layer into the stratification of the rocks due to the unexpected factors of working remotely, coordinate with assistants remotely and document new people and missing models at a time when many people where not traveling. This world event forced unconventional ways of working due to health concerns and travel restrictions which also is part of the piece and part of this story.

The piece is 40’ long by 12’ high. This journey, sometimes was virtual, going around the world to meet and photograph the people from the past. Many of those people understandably have moved on emotionally and physically with their lives creating a more varied and dramatic perspective within the faces and story that is The Land of Scars.

Link for the trailer: https://bit.ly/38ErSY3

NEXT P[AGE: The Land of Scars, details ► © Angelo Musco

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58

ITALY

www.instagram.com/gianluca_gambino

Born in 1986, in Sicily, exactly in Catania a baroque city par excellence. Tenia’s career starts as an illustrator/digital painter at the age of 25 years.

Pactum ► © Gianluca Gambino

His works are ruthless radiographs of the soul, compositions dense with symbols and layers, prepared to leave the viewer disturbed, restless and intrigued by the mystery. He tries to evoke and to transmit to the viewer that feeling of loss that we live today in this world of illusions, inclined to appear and transmit only what is easiest to emerge, not revealing the real moods that permeate and

FEATURED

corrode the soul, where all are prisoners of an age that imposes constraints, which always end up showing fiction rather than reality.

Original Sin ► © Gianluca Gambino NEXT PAGE: Chant To TheMoon ► © Gianluca Gambino 51

Coniunctio Oppositorum ► © Gianluca Gambino

ITALY

www.instagram.com/gianluca_gambino

Born in 1986, in Sicily, exactly in Catania a baroque city par excellence. Tenia’s career starts as an illustrator/digital painter at the age of 25 years.

Pactum ► © Gianluca Gambino

His works are ruthless radiographs of the soul, compositions dense with symbols and layers, prepared to leave the viewer disturbed, restless and intrigued by the mystery. He tries to evoke and to transmit to the viewer that feeling of loss that we live today in this world of illusions, inclined to appear and transmit only what is easiest to emerge, not revealing the real moods that permeate and

FEATURED

corrode the soul, where all are prisoners of an age that imposes constraints, which always end up showing fiction rather than reality.

Original Sin ► © Gianluca Gambino NEXT PAGE: Chant To TheMoon ► © Gianluca Gambino 51

Coniunctio Oppositorum ► © Gianluca Gambino

Melancolia ► © Gianluca Gambino

The Equilibrist ► © Gianluca Gambino PREVIOUS PAGE: Iter Verum ► © Gianluca Gambino

Omnia Fert Aetas ► © Gianluca Gambino

The Collector ► © Gianluca Gambino 54

Melancolia ► © Gianluca Gambino

The Equilibrist ► © Gianluca Gambino PREVIOUS PAGE: Iter Verum ► © Gianluca Gambino

Omnia Fert Aetas ► © Gianluca Gambino

The Collector ► © Gianluca Gambino 54

ARTICLE THE FANTASTIC WORLD OF

by Photographize

www.laahne.com

Elmer Laahne is a world-renowned visual artist and cinematographer from Norway, currently living in Koh Samui Island in Thailand.

Elmer’s fascination with photography can be traced back to his childhood. He got his first SLR camera at 13, quickly becoming nicknamed “photo/video Elmer”. He used to spend most of his free time with his brother, drawing, building models and playing with humor and creativity. His brother later became an exceptionally talented painter, who has illustrated several books. He was also inspired by his father, who was an airline pilot and avid photographer, always filming with 8- and 16-mm film. He was a prolific amateur inventor, too. They were always retrofitting different technologies together and Elmer learned a lot about mechanical subjects, welding, painting, and much more from him.

After finishing Photography and Film school in the early 90s, Elmer went on to build an illustrious career as a documentalist. Working for some of the largest TV channels and film companies, he visited every corner of the world. During those years, he documented some of the most heartbreaking aspects of humanity, including wars, general conflicts, and cultural challenges. Witnessing so much suffering, death, and even being shot at several times took a heavy toll on him and he developed PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). In 2018, he decided to stop working in conflict zones.

By then, he had five out stamped passports and had visited more than 80 countries in 23 years. He even worked at the North Pole!

TV Driod Trap ► © Elmer Laahne

In the early 2000´s he rekindled his passion for still photography. Elmer focuses on conceptual and landscape photography, two areas in which he has been widely recognized with several international awards. His latest project is called “Gallery Absurdia”. The concept involves using scale models and backdrops to bring motion picture icons to life in fictional universes. Every image requires meticulous planning and craftsmanship. Elmer carefully determines the best lightning technique and creates the necessary props and gadgets. The results are simply stunning.

Elmer Laahne’s creations are full of life, tell a story and transmit an undeniable sense of humor. They are so much more than wonderful photographs; they are windows into the boundless universe of imagination.

Desert Hijack, Gallery Absurdia #413 ► © Elmer Laahane 55

Frozen Emperor #63 ► © Elmer Laahne 56

ARTICLE THE FANTASTIC WORLD OF

by Photographize

www.laahne.com

Elmer Laahne is a world-renowned visual artist and cinematographer from Norway, currently living in Koh Samui Island in Thailand.

Elmer’s fascination with photography can be traced back to his childhood. He got his first SLR camera at 13, quickly becoming nicknamed “photo/video Elmer”. He used to spend most of his free time with his brother, drawing, building models and playing with humor and creativity. His brother later became an exceptionally talented painter, who has illustrated several books. He was also inspired by his father, who was an airline pilot and avid photographer, always filming with 8- and 16-mm film. He was a prolific amateur inventor, too. They were always retrofitting different technologies together and Elmer learned a lot about mechanical subjects, welding, painting, and much more from him.

After finishing Photography and Film school in the early 90s, Elmer went on to build an illustrious career as a documentalist. Working for some of the largest TV channels and film companies, he visited every corner of the world. During those years, he documented some of the most heartbreaking aspects of humanity, including wars, general conflicts, and cultural challenges. Witnessing so much suffering, death, and even being shot at several times took a heavy toll on him and he developed PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). In 2018, he decided to stop working in conflict zones.

By then, he had five out stamped passports and had visited more than 80 countries in 23 years. He even worked at the North Pole!

TV Driod Trap ► © Elmer Laahne

In the early 2000´s he rekindled his passion for still photography. Elmer focuses on conceptual and landscape photography, two areas in which he has been widely recognized with several international awards. His latest project is called “Gallery Absurdia”. The concept involves using scale models and backdrops to bring motion picture icons to life in fictional universes. Every image requires meticulous planning and craftsmanship. Elmer carefully determines the best lightning technique and creates the necessary props and gadgets. The results are simply stunning.

Elmer Laahne’s creations are full of life, tell a story and transmit an undeniable sense of humor. They are so much more than wonderful photographs; they are windows into the boundless universe of imagination.

Desert Hijack, Gallery Absurdia #413 ► © Elmer Laahane 55

Frozen Emperor #63 ► © Elmer Laahne 56

After finishing Photography and Film school in the early 90s, Elmer went on to build an illustrious career as a documentalist. Working for some of the largest TV channels and film companies, he visited every corner of the world. During those years, he documented some of the most heartbreaking aspects of humanity, including wars, general conflicts, and cultural challenges. Witnessing so much suffering, death, and even being shot at several times took a heavy toll on him and he developed PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). In 2018, he decided to stop working in conflict zones.

By then, he had five out stamped passports and had visited more than 80 countries in 23 years.

He even worked at the North Pole!

57

The Blind Date, Gallery Absurdia #143 ► © Elmer Laahane

In the early 2000´s he rekindled his passion for still photography. Elmer focuses on conceptual and landscape photography, two areas in which he has been widely recognized with several international awards. His latest project is called “Gallery Absurdia”. The concept involves using scale models and backdrops to bring motion picture icons to life in fictional universes. Every image requires meticulous planning and craftsmanship. Elmer carefully determines the best lightning technique and creates the necessary props and gadgets. The results are simply stunning.

Elmer Laahne’s creations are full of life, tell a story and transmit an undeniable sense of humor. They are so much more than wonderful photographs; they are windows into the boundless universe of imagination.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Rounding ► © G.B. Smith

58

After finishing Photography and Film school in the early 90s, Elmer went on to build an illustrious career as a documentalist. Working for some of the largest TV channels and film companies, he visited every corner of the world. During those years, he documented some of the most heartbreaking aspects of humanity, including wars, general conflicts, and cultural challenges. Witnessing so much suffering, death, and even being shot at several times took a heavy toll on him and he developed PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). In 2018, he decided to stop working in conflict zones.

By then, he had five out stamped passports and had visited more than 80 countries in 23 years.

He even worked at the North Pole!

57

The Blind Date, Gallery Absurdia #143 ► © Elmer Laahane

In the early 2000´s he rekindled his passion for still photography. Elmer focuses on conceptual and landscape photography, two areas in which he has been widely recognized with several international awards. His latest project is called “Gallery Absurdia”. The concept involves using scale models and backdrops to bring motion picture icons to life in fictional universes. Every image requires meticulous planning and craftsmanship. Elmer carefully determines the best lightning technique and creates the necessary props and gadgets. The results are simply stunning.

Elmer Laahne’s creations are full of life, tell a story and transmit an undeniable sense of humor. They are so much more than wonderful photographs; they are windows into the boundless universe of imagination.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Rounding ► © G.B. Smith

58

Cowboy Coke Bleeding ► © Elmer Laahane

Free Bird ► © Elmer Laahane

Take me Back ► © Elmer Laahane 59

Safe to Eat ► © Elmer Laahane

60

Cowboy Coke Bleeding ► © Elmer Laahane

Free Bird ► © Elmer Laahane

Take me Back ► © Elmer Laahane 59

Safe to Eat ► © Elmer Laahane

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SWEDEN

www.minimalphotos.com Marcus Cederberg is a talented photographer from Sweden who specializes in minimal architecture shots with a calming and pure aesthetic. In his pictures, he tries to tell as much as possible with as little as possible when creating simple, minimalistic, and somewhat calming artworks.

It´s Friday. Get nauti ► © Marcus Cederberg

Often using buildings and architecture as his subjects, Marcus vibrantly colored minimalist shots are sublime.

Marcus is an acclaimed international photographer who has displayed his work all over the world (New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Berlin, Hyderabad, Tel Aviv, and in his former hometown Orebro in Sweden).

FEATURED

Day 1 of Quarantine ► © Marcus Cederberg PREVIOUS PAGE: Bank Walve ► © Marcus Cederberg Knowledge is like underwear. Its useful to have it but not necessary to show it off ► © Marcus Cederberg

62

SWEDEN

www.minimalphotos.com Marcus Cederberg is a talented photographer from Sweden who specializes in minimal architecture shots with a calming and pure aesthetic. In his pictures, he tries to tell as much as possible with as little as possible when creating simple, minimalistic, and somewhat calming artworks.

It´s Friday. Get nauti ► © Marcus Cederberg

Often using buildings and architecture as his subjects, Marcus vibrantly colored minimalist shots are sublime.

Marcus is an acclaimed international photographer who has displayed his work all over the world (New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Berlin, Hyderabad, Tel Aviv, and in his former hometown Orebro in Sweden).

FEATURED

Day 1 of Quarantine ► © Marcus Cederberg PREVIOUS PAGE: Bank Walve ► © Marcus Cederberg Knowledge is like underwear. Its useful to have it but not necessary to show it off ► © Marcus Cederberg

62

I couldn’t repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder

Summer Evening ► © Marcus Cederberg 07

PREVIOUS PAGE: This weekend was knot too bad" ► © Marcus Cederberg

I have been to almost as many places as my luggage

Ocean View ► © Marcus Cederberg 64

I couldn’t repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder

Summer Evening ► © Marcus Cederberg 07

PREVIOUS PAGE: This weekend was knot too bad" ► © Marcus Cederberg

I have been to almost as many places as my luggage

Ocean View ► © Marcus Cederberg 64

EXPLORE www.taniaabitbol.com

by Photographize Tania Abitbol was born in Madrid in 1965. Her passion for photography began at a very early age. After a serious back injury, Tania decided to hang up her golf clubs to be able to devote herself more fully to photography - it was love at first sight. Her photos are powerful, full of joy, and in a deep sense, emotional. The play with colors in her photographs, and stunning landscapes/portraits are without questioning mesmerizing. With every frame, she beautifully captures the mood and emotion that defines each of her stories.

There are so many different Indias. My hope throughout the creative process of this illustrated story has been to bring the reader closer to many of them; not all of them, I’m afraid, because it would take a lifetime to be able to encompass the infinite nuances that define the idiosyncrasies of this fascinating Asian colossus.

The deafening noise that floods the big cities, the calm and joyful rhythm that permeates the air of the south, the indescribable madness that is experienced when traveling by train, the spirituality that reigns in the temples and sacred lakes, the contagious joviality so intensely shared in festivities, the magic that surrounds the sands of the Thar desert in one of the world’s largest livestock fairs, the vibrant color that paints every nook and cranny of the cities of Rajasthan and the rest of the country, the peace that reigns in the Buddhist area of Ladakh, the mystical serenity that envelops the Varanasi Ghats... all this and much more it is India.

India ► © Tania Abitbol

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68

EXPLORE www.taniaabitbol.com

by Photographize Tania Abitbol was born in Madrid in 1965. Her passion for photography began at a very early age. After a serious back injury, Tania decided to hang up her golf clubs to be able to devote herself more fully to photography - it was love at first sight. Her photos are powerful, full of joy, and in a deep sense, emotional. The play with colors in her photographs, and stunning landscapes/portraits are without questioning mesmerizing. With every frame, she beautifully captures the mood and emotion that defines each of her stories.

There are so many different Indias. My hope throughout the creative process of this illustrated story has been to bring the reader closer to many of them; not all of them, I’m afraid, because it would take a lifetime to be able to encompass the infinite nuances that define the idiosyncrasies of this fascinating Asian colossus.

The deafening noise that floods the big cities, the calm and joyful rhythm that permeates the air of the south, the indescribable madness that is experienced when traveling by train, the spirituality that reigns in the temples and sacred lakes, the contagious joviality so intensely shared in festivities, the magic that surrounds the sands of the Thar desert in one of the world’s largest livestock fairs, the vibrant color that paints every nook and cranny of the cities of Rajasthan and the rest of the country, the peace that reigns in the Buddhist area of Ladakh, the mystical serenity that envelops the Varanasi Ghats... all this and much more it is India.

India ► © Tania Abitbol

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68

The intention when giving form and meaning to this book has been to create several welldifferentiated spaces, to make in this way a significant impact, and to give a clear and forceful vision to such great contrasts. At no time have I tried to approach the subject from a didactic prism, which is what travel guides are for. My cameras always try to reach deep, looking for the most human aspect.

They say that India has no middle ground: either you hate it or you love it profoundly. In my case, fortunately, the latter happened; I am completely in love with this nation and its people. It is difficult to describe the tremendous impact on the five senses the first time you visit. Smells, tastes, noises, huge crowds, animals, vehicles... all of them pulsing loudly to the same rhythm under the incessant sound of horns, because yes, they even honk at the very air. It is true that terrible, very harsh scenes present themselves; the worst ones: those of orphaned children or those used by heartless men for their own profit, day after day living the horrors of the streets.

The same is true of some of the beliefs that are deeply rooted in the past, such as the caste system or arranged marriages, as well as the problematic situation in which millions of women find themselves, all of which are difficult to assimilate and accept in the 21st century; but once again, and not at all with the intention of wanting to ignore these harsh realities, I have tried to focus on the beautiful and kind face — because there is one and it exists in large doses.

I find surprising and admirable the capacity of adaptation of a society of almost 1,500 million people, its acceptance, its facility to live together within this continuous chaos with a calm that in very few other places if any, I have witnessed.

Here everyone has assumed their place, their reduced space, and respects that of others.

We are talking about the largest democracy in the world. Likewise, any religion is accepted: Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Muslims... all sharing space in peace and harmony; and the spirituality is so special, so authentic, so peaceful, and introspective.

75

India ► © Tania Abitbol

The intention when giving form and meaning to this book has been to create several welldifferentiated spaces, to make in this way a significant impact, and to give a clear and forceful vision to such great contrasts. At no time have I tried to approach the subject from a didactic prism, which is what travel guides are for. My cameras always try to reach deep, looking for the most human aspect.

They say that India has no middle ground: either you hate it or you love it profoundly. In my case, fortunately, the latter happened; I am completely in love with this nation and its people. It is difficult to describe the tremendous impact on the five senses the first time you visit. Smells, tastes, noises, huge crowds, animals, vehicles... all of them pulsing loudly to the same rhythm under the incessant sound of horns, because yes, they even honk at the very air. It is true that terrible, very harsh scenes present themselves; the worst ones: those of orphaned children or those used by heartless men for their own profit, day after day living the horrors of the streets.

The same is true of some of the beliefs that are deeply rooted in the past, such as the caste system or arranged marriages, as well as the problematic situation in which millions of women find themselves, all of which are difficult to assimilate and accept in the 21st century; but once again, and not at all with the intention of wanting to ignore these harsh realities, I have tried to focus on the beautiful and kind face — because there is one and it exists in large doses.

I find surprising and admirable the capacity of adaptation of a society of almost 1,500 million people, its acceptance, its facility to live together within this continuous chaos with a calm that in very few other places if any, I have witnessed.

Here everyone has assumed their place, their reduced space, and respects that of others.

We are talking about the largest democracy in the world. Likewise, any religion is accepted: Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Muslims... all sharing space in peace and harmony; and the spirituality is so special, so authentic, so peaceful, and introspective.

75

India ► © Tania Abitbol

Each day of each of the countless journeys I have made throughout India has reaffirmed my love for it, taught me to be a better person, helped me to value my life, and know-how to respect that of others. It is more than likely that I will return again and again to this unique part of the world that fascinates me so much and that has given me so much.

For now, I am very happy to have had the opportunity to pay a small tribute to its hard-working, noble, joyful, and extremely welcoming people. I hope with all my heart to have been able to reflect and transmit all their essence through this new collection of images".

71

India ► © Tania Abitbol

Each day of each of the countless journeys I have made throughout India has reaffirmed my love for it, taught me to be a better person, helped me to value my life, and know-how to respect that of others. It is more than likely that I will return again and again to this unique part of the world that fascinates me so much and that has given me so much.

For now, I am very happy to have had the opportunity to pay a small tribute to its hard-working, noble, joyful, and extremely welcoming people. I hope with all my heart to have been able to reflect and transmit all their essence through this new collection of images".

71

India ► © Tania Abitbol

SPAIN

ZUMBAO 50 x 48 cm, oil and mixed on paper, Canary Island 2021

www.carlosblancoartero.com "My painting has been transformed in these years from a new figuration to a more expressive and gestural painting, where the figurative element is still, but more blurred. Having as a reference the work of George Condo in New York was undoubtedly one of the starting points of my current project ".

Carlos Blanco Artero has exhibited in renowned

GERMAN 63 x 47 cm, oil and mixed on paper, Berlin 2019

FEATURED

international Museums, Galleries, and Institutions.

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His works are included in public and private collections whose most important are the American musician Allen Stone, the philosopher Fernando Savater, Chiu Chien Chang Collection in Taiwan, or billionaire Richard Magides who has several of his works in his collections in Singapore and New Zealand.

NEXT PAGE: POKER FACE 150 x 100 cm oil and mixed on canvas, London 2020 Private collection in Zaragoza DEATH 30 x 30 cm, oil on paper, New York 2017 Private collection in Taiwan

SPAIN

ZUMBAO 50 x 48 cm, oil and mixed on paper, Canary Island 2021

www.carlosblancoartero.com "My painting has been transformed in these years from a new figuration to a more expressive and gestural painting, where the figurative element is still, but more blurred. Having as a reference the work of George Condo in New York was undoubtedly one of the starting points of my current project ".

Carlos Blanco Artero has exhibited in renowned

GERMAN 63 x 47 cm, oil and mixed on paper, Berlin 2019

FEATURED

international Museums, Galleries, and Institutions.

73

His works are included in public and private collections whose most important are the American musician Allen Stone, the philosopher Fernando Savater, Chiu Chien Chang Collection in Taiwan, or billionaire Richard Magides who has several of his works in his collections in Singapore and New Zealand.

NEXT PAGE: POKER FACE 150 x 100 cm oil and mixed on canvas, London 2020 Private collection in Zaragoza DEATH 30 x 30 cm, oil on paper, New York 2017 Private collection in Taiwan

GERMAN 63 x 47 cm, oil and mixed on paper, Berlin 2019

POKER FACE, 150 x 100 cm, oil and mixed on canvas, London 2020 Private collection in Zaragoza

ISA 63 x 47 cm, oil on paper, Berlin 2019 Private collection in London

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GERMAN DRUNK 140 x 110 cm acrylic on canvas, Berlin 2020 Private collection in Barcelona

QUARTERBACK 30 x 30 cm, oil on paper, New York 2017

76

GERMAN 63 x 47 cm, oil and mixed on paper, Berlin 2019

POKER FACE, 150 x 100 cm, oil and mixed on canvas, London 2020 Private collection in Zaragoza

ISA 63 x 47 cm, oil on paper, Berlin 2019 Private collection in London

75

GERMAN DRUNK 140 x 110 cm acrylic on canvas, Berlin 2020 Private collection in Barcelona

QUARTERBACK 30 x 30 cm, oil on paper, New York 2017

76

COLLAGE

ARTICLE

Aesthetically-pleasing collage compositions

by Photographize

www.instagram.com/kuciajoanna

The origins of collage go back hundreds of years, but this technique made a breathtaking comeback in the early 20th century and remains a novel art form since then. The movements of Cubism, Dada and Surrealism, Collage and Montage have certainly had a visible impact on it. Although collage art originally derived from the use of paper, its expansion into the digital world means that digital collage can now include all kinds of elements and materials.

Unlike other fields of art, collage artists are noted for having the ability to see things from a new perspective. A unique point of view that allows the artist to create something new from existing material. Yes, we can all create - however, obtaining collages of the highest quality that are inspiring and captivating for the public, is what makes the world of collage particularly unique.

► © Byoung Ho Rhee

11

Bridge ► © Joanna Kucia PREVIOUS PAGE: Twiggy ► © Joanna Kucia

Peace ► © Joanna Kucia 78

COLLAGE

ARTICLE

Aesthetically-pleasing collage compositions

by Photographize

www.instagram.com/kuciajoanna

The origins of collage go back hundreds of years, but this technique made a breathtaking comeback in the early 20th century and remains a novel art form since then. The movements of Cubism, Dada and Surrealism, Collage and Montage have certainly had a visible impact on it. Although collage art originally derived from the use of paper, its expansion into the digital world means that digital collage can now include all kinds of elements and materials.

Unlike other fields of art, collage artists are noted for having the ability to see things from a new perspective. A unique point of view that allows the artist to create something new from existing material. Yes, we can all create - however, obtaining collages of the highest quality that are inspiring and captivating for the public, is what makes the world of collage particularly unique.

► © Byoung Ho Rhee

11

Bridge ► © Joanna Kucia PREVIOUS PAGE: Twiggy ► © Joanna Kucia

Peace ► © Joanna Kucia 78

Miracle World ► © Joanna Kucia

Don’t Care ► © Joanna Kucia

Hope ► © Joanna Kucia

Food Disaster ► © Joanna Kucia

Joanna Kucia is a talented collage artist based in the UK. Her pieces are slick and soft-focussed, aesthetically-pleasing compositions injected with a highly creative and unusual approach. For a long time, Joanna was interested in photo-manipulation, however, over the years she has gained a new fascination with collages which open up a new world. Given the great variety of materials, collages allow her to express her emotions and views in infinite ways. Her creations are not only a window to another world but also a mirror of her dreams, fears, and experiences.

Joanna uses digital processing and old photos as well as floral motives for her work; she prefers soft, muted colors in her art pieces which brings a very calming feeling for her audience. Expressing her emotions through her art gives her a passion to connect to others that may share the same feelings and thoughts as she does. Joanna is inspired by many things and sometimes quite bizarre (Dreams, books, music, people's conversations, and artists). As a surreal artist, Joanna repeats after Rene Magritte: "To be a surrealist means barring from your mind all remembrance of what you have seen, and being always on the lookout for what has never been."

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Home ► © Joanna Kucia Curiouser and curiouser ► © Joanna Kucia

Miracle World ► © Joanna Kucia

Don’t Care ► © Joanna Kucia

Hope ► © Joanna Kucia

Food Disaster ► © Joanna Kucia

Joanna Kucia is a talented collage artist based in the UK. Her pieces are slick and soft-focussed, aesthetically-pleasing compositions injected with a highly creative and unusual approach. For a long time, Joanna was interested in photo-manipulation, however, over the years she has gained a new fascination with collages which open up a new world. Given the great variety of materials, collages allow her to express her emotions and views in infinite ways. Her creations are not only a window to another world but also a mirror of her dreams, fears, and experiences.

Joanna uses digital processing and old photos as well as floral motives for her work; she prefers soft, muted colors in her art pieces which brings a very calming feeling for her audience. Expressing her emotions through her art gives her a passion to connect to others that may share the same feelings and thoughts as she does. Joanna is inspired by many things and sometimes quite bizarre (Dreams, books, music, people's conversations, and artists). As a surreal artist, Joanna repeats after Rene Magritte: "To be a surrealist means barring from your mind all remembrance of what you have seen, and being always on the lookout for what has never been."

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Home ► © Joanna Kucia Curiouser and curiouser ► © Joanna Kucia

SPAIN

www.instagram.com/davidmoreno_art Barcelona based artist David Moreno creates architectural sculptures that challenge our senses and perception of space. He describes his work as “drawing with sculpture”. Combining steel rods and piano wire, his sculptures resemble free-hand sketches floating in mid air. If you ever wondered what would happen to a drawing that magically leaves the page and adventures into the third dimension, Moreno has the answer.

FEATURED

Floating favelas, Blue Tower ► © David Moreno PREVIUS PAGE: Floating favelas, El dorado ► © David Moreno

Floating favelas, En Comunidad ► © David Moreno

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SPAIN

www.instagram.com/davidmoreno_art Barcelona based artist David Moreno creates architectural sculptures that challenge our senses and perception of space. He describes his work as “drawing with sculpture”. Combining steel rods and piano wire, his sculptures resemble free-hand sketches floating in mid air. If you ever wondered what would happen to a drawing that magically leaves the page and adventures into the third dimension, Moreno has the answer.

FEATURED

Floating favelas, Blue Tower ► © David Moreno PREVIUS PAGE: Floating favelas, El dorado ► © David Moreno

Floating favelas, En Comunidad ► © David Moreno

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Floating favelas, En Comunidad ► © David Moreno

Floating favelas III ► © David Moreno 83

Loop ► © David Moreno

Floating favelas, blue community ► © David Moreno

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Floating favelas, En Comunidad ► © David Moreno

Floating favelas III ► © David Moreno 83

Loop ► © David Moreno

Floating favelas, blue community ► © David Moreno

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Highlights Curator’s Choice

BEA BLOUSSON

MICHAELA KINDLE DANIEL GONZÁLEZ www.instagram.com/michaelakindle www.instagram.com/daniel.ricardo.gonzalez

www.beablousson.com www.instagram.com/beabphoto

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Highlights Curator’s Choice

BEA BLOUSSON

MICHAELA KINDLE DANIEL GONZÁLEZ www.instagram.com/michaelakindle www.instagram.com/daniel.ricardo.gonzalez

www.beablousson.com www.instagram.com/beabphoto

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DANIEL CASTONGUAY www.dancastudios.com

www.instagram.com/daniel.castonguay.165

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JAVIER ROLDAN PEREZ www.javierroldan.com www.instagram.com/javierroldanp

88

DANIEL CASTONGUAY www.dancastudios.com

www.instagram.com/daniel.castonguay.165

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JAVIER ROLDAN PEREZ www.javierroldan.com www.instagram.com/javierroldanp

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GEIR FLØDE https://www.geirfloede.com

www.instagram.com/geirfloede

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NIC KELLER www.nic-keller.ch

www.instagram.com/nic_keller_photography

GEIR FLØDE www.geirfloede.com

www.instagram.com/geirfloede

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NIC KELLER www.nic-keller.ch

www.instagram.com/nic_keller_photography

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DARIAN ELAM https://www.instagram.com/dreamur

GIGI CHUNG www.gigichungphotography.com www.instagram.com/gigi8188

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DARIAN ELAM www.instagram.com/dizzual

GIGI CHUNG www.gigichungphotography.com www.instagram.com/gigi8188

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AMIR HAR-ELL www.instagram.com/amirharell

ANETTE OHLENDORF www.aohlendorf.jimdo.com www.instagram.com/a.ohlendorf_photoart

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AMIR HAR-ELL www.instagram.com/amirharell

ANETTE OHLENDORF www.aohlendorf.jimdo.com www.instagram.com/a.ohlendorf_photoart

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ELENI GEMENI www.elenigemeni.com

PEIJUN CAO

www.instagram.com/peijunfashion_art

www.instagram.com/elengemlux/

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ELENI GEMENI www.elenigemeni.com

PEIJUN CAO

www.instagram.com/peijunfashion_art

www.instagram.com/elengemlux/

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HANY HOSSAMELDIN www.instagram.com/hanyhossameldin

DANCHO ATANASOV www.artofdancho.com

www.instagram.com/art_dancho

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HANY HOSSAMELDIN www.instagram.com/hanyhossameldin

DANCHO ATANASOV www.artofdancho.com

www.instagram.com/art_dancho

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MARTINA DIMUNOVA www.instagram.com/mdimun

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MARCELO ZAGAL www.instagram.com/thefridge_dk

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MARTINA DIMUNOVA www.instagram.com/mdimun

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MARCELO ZAGAL www.instagram.com/thefridge_dk

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