My work explores emotional connection and disconnection between the self, others, and the surrounding environment through staged photographic self-portraits. I transform everyday moments into surreal, dreamlike situations balanced between calm and chaos, where comfort and eeriness coexist. Drawing from experiences of loneliness, displacement, and psychological challenges, I create images that blur the boundaries between human and natural worlds. My practice reflects on transformation, resilience, and the difficulty of finding connection within uncertain conditions, while also addressing broader shifts in community and environment. By combining humor, discomfort, and vulnerability, I seek to highlight the beauty in being undone.
Finland-born, Berlin-based photographer Vilma Leino focuses on self-portraiture, which she uses to ponder solitude and challenging psychological stages. In her work, she creates female characters with untold stories, experimenting with strong colour schemes, performance, and the human body in her portrayal. Her photographs often balance beauty and horror, using humour to counter darker thematic explorations. Her photographs are a one-woman show, where being in control and the fear of losing it are in a constant dialogue, forming a story about personal growth, where fears are forming into strength.