I WAKE UP WITH EMOTIONAL RESIDUE
"A Photographic Exploration of the Subconscious, Translating Internal Imagery Into Visual Form."
Since I was young, I have always viewed dreams as one of the most mysterious phenomena one can experience. From fleeting images that disappear as soon as I wake to surreal narratives, dreams create an alternate world filled with hidden stories from our conscious, preconscious, and deep unconscious minds, as defined by Sigmund Freud. I believe these visions occur for a reason and are not accidental. At times, these dreams reflect desires, anxieties, and the psychological effects experienced through social issues, transforming them into enigmatic stories.
I find my nighttime experiences to be both meaningful and valuable for my artwork. In my art, dreams do not serve as answers; rather, I use them as a vital source of inspiration that encourages me to explore my hidden inner self by asking questions. Through photography, I visually narrate my inner stories, creating a bridge between the intangible and the tangible, as well as between my internal and external worlds. What began as a simple attempt to document my dreams has evolved into a more detailed process where I stage my dreams photographically and reconstruct them using voice memos upon waking up.
The goal of my work is not merely to recreate dreams with precise visual accuracy. My goal is to create a visual experience that captures the surreal nature of dreams, where the subconscious expresses truths about human psychology and other phenomena that cannot be explained through logic. Today, we live in a world where our consciousness is constantly immersed in stimulation from technology and media. I believe it is essential for us to focus on our inner selves, especially during times like these, by paying closer attention to our dreams. Interpreting dreams serves as both a practice of self-understanding and a way to get to know ourselves better through reflection. In the visual narratives I create, I invite my audience to explore and encounter remnants of fleeting memories or emotions they may have forgotten. Through these discoveries, I hope they will ask their own questions and share the experience collectively.