Fine Art nominee

From the series "Las Siete Noches del Alma" — "The Seven Nights of the Soul" in English — I am presenting two of the seven photographs that comprise the series.

This body of work is an imaginary narrative inspired by the myth of The Rape of Persephone and alchemy concepts. Symbolically, the series portrays a soul descending into its own underworld, seeking transformation and the evolution of its inner darkness.

The two images presented here are titled El Reflejo (The Reflection) and El Todo (The Whole). Both are key moments in the journey, representing death and rebirth—essential thresholds the soul must pass through.

Visually inspired by 17th-century Baroque painting, these photographs evoke intimacy and depth, drawing from the traditions of vanitas and memento mori.

The work was inspired by mental health issues I have overcome over the years. From my teenage years to the present, I have struggled with recurring thoughts about my own death. These photographs were created as a way to process and transform these thoughts, while also fostering a sense of connection with others who share similar experiences.

I’m a photographer based in Guadalajara, Mexico, with a degree in Visual Arts for Photographic Expression from the University of Guadalajara. My work explores my relationship with life and death, as well as mental health awareness. I use symbolic language to address such themes.

My work has an introspective approach and an aesthetic influenced by Baroque still life, memento mori, and vanitas. I also like to invite viewers to reflect on internal processes of change and the complexity of human experience.

I draw inspiration from classical artists like Caravaggio and Clara Peeters, and from contemporary photographers and artists such as Edward Weston, Gabriel Figueroa, Juan Rulfo, Toni Catany, and Remedios Varo. Their work nurtures my visual language and deepens my exploration of symbolism and emotional resonance.

As Ansel Adams once said:
"You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved."