A journey through a labyrinth of imagined realities; Portals by Olga Rook

Olga Rook had always been intrigued by intangible matters such as time. She went on to study history and obtained her master’s and then PhD degrees in the Mediaeval and Early Modern history and did research in Renaissance culture.

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Olga had always been intrigued by intangible matters such as time. She went on to study history and obtained her master’s and then PhD degrees in the Mediaeval and Early Modern history and did research in Renaissance culture.

Training as a historian involves analyzing available data, texts and artifacts to construct a picture, an interpretation, of foregone reality – or rather of its fragments. This makes you feel mentally present in different realities simultaneously and urges you to contemplate on the limits of perception and the role of imagination in our worldview.

This approach inspired the “Portals” series. It is a journey through a labyrinth of imagined realities, space and time dislocations. Entryways to other universes appear in our mind as we invent and invite them. Ultimately, the series is about a travel through the realm of subconscious.

The intense golden light recurs the antique ambrotype aesthetics to suggest a departure from the ordinary and contemporary. At the same time it is inspired by the Orthodox symbolism. In Byzantine tradition golden colour represents light in its metaphysical sense, the light that is invisible to senses, transcends the reality and appears before one’s inner eye through contemplation. It stands for illumination and epiphany.

The “Portals” refer to the symbolism of golden light as representing the filter of contemplation. It marks human self-consciousness with its urge for personal meanings and ability to evoke virtual worlds. The amber filter suggests the inner space where we can meet and confront ourselves.

The series is based on modern-day visual encounters reinvented in a viewer’s mind. It is essential that all scenes are presented as they were seen. No objects were added or removed in post processing, photo manipulation being limited to the antique esthetics.

“Portals” is an ongoing project. The photos were made at various locations across. Europe: in the Netherlands, Belgium (Belgian Ardennes being a particularly inspiring region), France, Austria, Germany and more. Images from the series had been exhibited internationally and received some awards and nominations.

Portals | Olga Rook
Portals | Olga Rook

About Olga Rook

Olga Rook is a Russian-born artist based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Her artistic approach is grounded in ideas but flavored with poetry. Her fine art photography is about the “mystery” of everyday life – the symbols, meanings and hidden “dimensions” uncovered and constructed through observation and imagination. [Official Website]

Portals | Olga Rook
Portals | Olga Rook

OlgaRook_Portals-4 OlgaRook_Portals-5 OlgaRook_Portals-6 OlgaRook_Portals-7 OlgaRook_Portals-8 OlgaRook_Portals-9

Portals | Olga Rook
Portals | Olga Rook

Portals | Olga Rook
Portals | Olga Rook

Portals | Olga Rook
Portals | Olga Rook

Portals | Olga Rook

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Submission
Dodho Magazine accepts submissions from emerging and professional photographers from around the world.
Their projects can be published among the best photographers and be viewed by the best professionals in the industry and thousands of photography enthusiasts. Dodho magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any submitted project. Due to the large number of presentations received daily and the need to treat them with the greatest respect and the time necessary for a correct interpretation our average response time is around 5/10 business days in the case of being accepted. This is the information you need to start preparing your project for its presentation.
To send it, you must compress the folder in .ZIP format and use our Wetransfer channel specially dedicated to the reception of works. Links or projects in PDF format will not be accepted. All presentations are carefully reviewed based on their content and final quality of the project or portfolio. If your work is selected for publication in the online version, it will be communicated to you via email and subsequently it will be published.
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