41: Self Portraits. The first series of self portraits that I’ve created. Challenging but also meditative, exploring the depths of one's being on various levels. Long exposures accompanied by stillness or soft, intuitive movement, then layered with elements of nature. I started this project out of curiosity - how is it to be in front of the camera instead of behind it. I essentially did both, but I put more focus into the “front of the camera” performance. And while I was exploring the essence of it, I received a message that my beloved grandma had passed away. Being born in Slovakia but currently living in the States, I couldn’t be there to share my grief with my family. During that time, I immersed myself even more in exploring self-portraits and somewhat naturally this immersion emerged as an answer to my healing journey. I made 41 portraits, the number of my age when my grandma passed. It certainly became a deeper experience than I intended it to be in the beginning. This series became my diary of loss, memories and new beginnings…