Still Life Shortlist

In Trauma Bondage, I want to address trauma as a distorting force that ensnares one’s perception, weaving an illusion that keeps us tethered to the painfully familiar. The series delves into the delicate visual interplay between contrasts of sharp and soft, natural and synthetic, solid and airy. With these images I am exploring not only my own experience with trauma and trauma bonds, but also the overall feeling of a traumatised society, where trust is eroded and relationships are labelled as unsafe – emerging narratives in which suffering becomes the currency for love and connection.

Kristina Kulakova is an art photographer based in Vienna. Her vision of architecture, art, people, and objects reveal an existential quest for harmony, a desire to make peace with herself and her surroundings. After several years of traveling around the world, Kristina is developing a studio practice centered around still life photography and meditation.