Childhood sometimes offers experiences that can take a lifetime to comprehend.
For Ukrainian photographer and visual artist Ann Zhulan, an early existential experience became the starting point for The World of the Subconscious—a photographic exploration of identity, emotion, and the unseen dimensions of human experience.
As a child, Zhulan repeatedly asked herself a question: “Who am I?” By repeating it continuously in her mind, she briefly experienced a sense of self that seemed to transcend the boundaries of her physical body and rational thought. It was an experience of profound presence and an awareness of herself as part of something immeasurably greater. Although this state gradually faded over the years, the memory of it endured and eventually became the inspiration behind the project.
Initiated in 2021, The World of the Subconscious explores the relationship between the inner world of the individual and external reality. At the heart of the series is the image of a tree—a symbol of life, resilience, and connection with nature. In Zhulan’s photographs, the tree transcends its literal representation, becoming a metaphor for inner experience, where the conscious and the hidden intertwine with emotions, memories, and intuitive feelings.
The trees in this series are not merely objects of observation but images through which the artist explores states of being that are difficult to articulate in words. They become intermediaries between external reality and inner experience, opening up a space for reflection on how our sense of self is formed and how we perceive the world around us.
Zhulan’s visual language moves beyond the literal depiction of nature. Her attention to light, color, and abstraction transforms the perception of familiar forms, imbuing them with a new emotional resonance. The recognizable gives way to the associative, allowing natural imagery to remain open to multiple interpretations. Rather than offering definitive answers, the photographs leave room for viewers to bring their own memories, feelings, and interpretations to the images.
Despite its personal origins, the project extends beyond individual experience. It raises universal questions about the nature of human consciousness, the limits of self-knowledge, and the unseen processes that shape our perception of ourselves and the world. How much remains unknown to us, even within ourselves? And can the contemplation of nature bring us closer to understanding our own essence?
In a world shaped by a constant flow of information and the accelerating pace of everyday life, The World of the Subconscious invites viewers to pause and turn their attention to what usually remains beyond the scope of ordinary perception. Here, photography becomes not only a means of documenting reality but also a way of exploring its hidden meanings.
The childhood question “Who am I?”, from which this journey began, ultimately extends beyond the artist’s personal experience. It becomes an invitation for viewers to turn inward, explore their own inner worlds, and reflect on their place within the vastness of the universe.
About Ann Zhulan
Ann Zhulan is a Ukrainian photographer and visual artist originally from the picturesque Podillia region of Ukraine. She holds a master’s degree in Philology, specializing in Ukrainian Language and Literature, and studied fine art photography at the Kyiv School of Photography in Ukraine and Form Photo Academy in France.
Zhulan’s artistic practice brings together emotion, existential inquiry, and Ukrainian cultural identity, expressed through symbolism, imagery, and color. Her work explores the relationships between reality, perception, and the inner experiences of the human condition.
Her photographs have received international recognition and have been exhibited in galleries, cultural institutions, and international photography festivals, including Form/Joseph Gallery, Galerie Talmart, Campus Condorcet, the Chania International Photo Festival, NU ART Gallery, Eye Sea Gallery, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, House of Lucie Budapest, Blank Wall Gallery, The Chateau Gallery, and Gallery Omnibus, among others.
In 2024, Zhulan won first place at the Budapest International Foto Awards. Her work was shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards Open 2024, State of the World 2023/2024, and the Form Photo Award 2024. She also received an Honorable Mention at the International Photography Awards 2024, was preselected for Young Portfolio 2024, and was officially selected for the London International Creative Competition 2023.
Her photographs have been featured in the publications Sony World Photography Awards 2024 and 100 Contemporary Ukrainian Photographers. [Official Website]
