Interview with Elena Drozdova
BIFA 2025 Winner, 1st Place, Professional Fine Art, “Paper face.”
Q: What was the inspiration for Paper face? How did you arrive at this final idea?
Before starting the Paper Face project, I had experience both creating collages and shooting still-life photography. Bringing these two practices together naturally led to the development of a process that resulted in surreal, visually striking images.
Q: What were some of the practical or creative challenges you faced in physically constructing these self-portraits?
Some elements of the self-portraits were mounted on wire, which made the overall structure quite unstable. I also relied heavily on natural light, so I often had to reposition the entire installation to achieve the right illumination
Q: You depict age not as a physical process, but as the “blurring of personal boundaries.” How do you hope the viewer connects emotionally with this idea of the face becoming unfamiliar, “like paper crumpling under fingers”?
As the face begins to lose its clarity – not only because of time but also due to inner change – it becomes something fluid, elusive. In these paper fragments held together by thin wire, I try to convey a sense of fragility, when one’s own appearance no longer feels whole. Just as the skin becomes less elastic with age – almost paper- like – the boundaries of the ‘self’ gradually soften. I hope the viewer feels not anxiety but a quiet sense of recognition, because each of us has experienced a moment when the reflection in the mirror looks slightly unfamiliar. And it is precisely this fleeting feeling that I try to make visible
Q: What motivated you to enter the Budapest International Foto Awards? What does winning 1st place in the Fine Art category mean to you, especially for such a personal and surreal self- portrait.
I’m grateful to the Budapest International Foto Awards for choosing my work.
It inspires me to keep experimenting and developing my artistic style.
Q: Could you share some insights into your technical process?
My self-portraits are printed and arranged in space in various ways: some elements are connected to each other, while others are cut apart. Harsh light and shadows help create a sense of volume. I use a Fujifilm X-T3 for the photography.