Could the memory of a place alter our emotional landscape? And can that be passed down through generations? Could our bodies be living archives of the past? My practice explores the relationship between identity, inheritance, and emotion through portraiture. Working with family archives, inherited tools, and my own body, I investigate how the stories that define us are preserved, fragmented, and transformed over time.

My portraits draw inspiration from the visual language of classical oil painting, yet the figures appear detached from any setting, suspended in negative space. I crop, soften, or emphasize details; alter tones and textures; and remove the background so that the figure itself gains greater presence. At times, the works are intimate in scale, inviting closeness with the viewer; at others, they are presented in large format, creating a sense of distance. This approach highlights individuality and humanity while denying the viewer the authority to consume or complete the subject's story.
 
Analog photography functions both as a research tool and as a material connection to the past. I use my grandfather's cameras and manual photographic processes, creating spaces where chance interrupts control and memory is transformed. At times, I feel as though my ancestors create through me, using these tools to make their voices visible once again. These photographs often become the starting material for paintings. By passing through multiple processes, the archive remains alive and in constant evolution.
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Moving between photography and painting, I fragment and reassemble memories, experiences, and emotions into intimate, enigmatic, and deeply vital figures, giving visual form to what remains hidden.