Fine Art nominee

“The Not So Roaring 20s” explores the parallels between the 1920s and 2020s and highlights the similarities between the social, economic and emotional challenges of both decades. The images capture the sense of disillusionment, uncertainty and inner struggle that accompanies people after the First World War and the Spanish flu, as well as today's generations in the wake of the pandemic, political crises and social upheaval. The aesthetics and composition of the images deliberately play with contrasts: glamorous clothing and accessories are reminiscent of the heyday of the 1920s, while the scenes depicted capture moments of loneliness, fragility and discomfort - aspects that also accompanied the “Roaring Twenties” beneath the surface. The people shown appear absent or trapped in their poses, they seem to be in conflict with the expectations placed on them - a reflection of the social constraints that existed in both decades.

Sina Poch, born 1995 in Cologne, initially studied art history. After years of strategic image analysis and interpretation of foreign art, she wanted to create something of her own and leave the analyzing to others. So she followed her heart and started studying photography. Between emotional chaos and world agony, she developed a passion for the surreal and dystopia. Whether self-deprecating and amusing or socially critical: Her photos should evoke emotions and reflection. For her, photography is not a means to an end, but a way of expressing yourself honestly. Through her affinity for past and future times, she creates a break from the present in her works. To put it in Egon Schiele's words: “Art cannot be modern; Art is eternal. "