2022 – ongoing
Traditional motifs of folklore and folk costume reflect deeply rooted perceptions of beauty and identity. Yet the nude body and subtle eroticism are often concealed within them – like unspoken things we barely dare to articulate. Still, elements such as voluminous skirts, tall boots, or rich colors adorned with floral and fruit patterns were never merely aesthetic gestures. They carried symbolism shaped over centuries, stirring fantasies and passions.
Nudity itself was once a natural part of ceremonial and ritual culture in the countryside. It was perceived as a bearer of magical power, linking the visible world with the spiritual one. Themes of bodily desire, eroticism, and love, which might seem unspoken in traditional contexts, actually speak to us through costumes, dances, and song verses. They respond to questions we never dared to utter. Songs tell stories of relationships, passion, pain, and longing. Yet their metaphors have often become so habitual that we stopped perceiving their true depth. In reality, it is enough to listen again.
The photographic series Unspoken Things is inspired not only by folk songs and traditions but also by ethnographic texts exploring the body as a cultural phenomenon within folklore. The images in this series primarily draw on ritual and symbolic meanings of fertility and sexuality, while at the same time portraying traditions and folklore not only as cultural heritage but also as personal stories. They seek a balance between what connects us to both past and present.