People and more

These works may seem unrelated. Yet beneath the surface, they are woven together by moments, encounters, and contexts that have etched themselves into my psyche — shaping not only the art, but the artist behind it.

I have been photographing for 15 years, and this is the first exhibition I’ve dared to participate in. Because it was open for women only — and here could be end of this text. Yet, for all these years, I have been balancing commercial photography, which pays the bills, with the art that reflects what my heart truly sees. Over time, I’ve even learned to merge the two.

I could have chosen the “best” or “perfect” photographs, but this is my first time, it’s a women-focused exhibition, and it’s in Bologna — a place I so lovingly enjoy visiting.

So I chose the images I simply love, each for its own reason, each telling its own story. Most importantly, each photo captures a situation or a process that shifted something inside me, made me feel more alive, more skilled, or opened my heart a little wider.

“The Old Gentleman” is included here because I took that photo just today. I felt a pang of sadness thinking no one would see it. He was the one who pushed me to show what I truly wanted to share, rather than what might seem “correct.”

And isn’t that what exhibitions like this are for — to share our own stained-glass windows with the world?

With art in heart, best regards

Kateryna