Irina Denisova, Portal (ART & CONCEPTUAL 2026)

This work is part of a triptych created for the theme “Portal.” It explores the idea that every human being is part of a hidden, wondrous inner world, largely unknown even to themselves. This world remains concealed beneath the surface of conscious awareness, yet it is always present within us, quietly inviting discovery. The work reflects on the mystery of human nature and the extraordinary world that exists within each of us. The work combines photography, drawing, physical experimentation, and digital compositing. The portrait and a hand-drawn, bead-decorated fish were photographed separately. The processed portrait was printed, chemically altered to create an organic pattern, and photographed again. These elements were then brought together in the final digital composition.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.