I am a 35-year-old single mother who lives in Chodov, a small town in the Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic. In 2016, I graduated with a master´s degree in English and American literature from the Faculty of Arts, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. Following my graduation, I began to work at a law firm.
My passion for photography began after undergoing the final eye surgery in 2007. I am still lazy-eyed, and have astigmatism and high myopia, but thanks to the procedures, I wake up without the urge to find glasses, put it on so to be capable of seeing the world around me. Years later, I still recall observing objects, nature, people, and everything I could, for a long time, feeling as if a brand new world opened for me to explore. The need to capture my new reality made me buy my first camera, spending more time paying attention to the smallest details, the way light changes spaces and the vibes of objects perceived. I changed the camera, but my enthusiasm and approach remained the same. I do not look for beauty to capture. I do not crave to be among crowds in fancy destinations. Exploring inner peripheries, elevating ordinary objects to things worthy of attention, conveying emotions I feel when I am behind the camera, ready to capture my new world – that is my goal.
I do my best to keep my creativity and passion alive despite my busy schedule, balancing the part-time work with taking care of my 5-year-old son.
Artist Statement
´Odd how the creative power at once brings the whole universe to order,´ noted Virginia Woolf in her diary. This same power, too, can transform a personal universe into a magical realm, free from limits and rules, where mundane reality fades away.
This resonates with me as someone with limited travel options. My outdoor experiences are confined to a few places I regularly visit. For instance, the pond just a stone’s throw from my flat can become a vast golden sea, surrounded by bluish grass in my imagination. However, when I reflect on the coal-mining affected area where I live, that pond and the trees around it transform as well. They no longer resemble a seaside; instead, the dominant colors shift to dark gray, black, and red, evoking a Mordor-like atmosphere.
I can see the Ore Mountains rising over the horizon. With the power of my imagination, I transform them into majestic peaks that pierce the sky, shining with vibrant colors. During winter, when snow falls and shades of grey and white dominate the landscape, I relish the opportunity to infuse my imaginary world with even more color. Warm colors buried beneath a blanket of white snow? Not anymore! In my mind, the snow sparkles in the sun, casting green and yellow hues that stand in stark contrast to the grey sky.
In the summertime, especially when temperatures soar above 30°C, I envision the parched ground in soothing shades of blue. When this heat persists, the world feels like a burning inferno to me. Everything seems to be ablaze, with my imagination amplifying the sensation using vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
The landscape in my mind is a realm of endless possibilities. I can access it any time, my universe, my finest neverland, brought to life by the creative power of my imagination.
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