Terra exotica

Terra Exotica is a photographic series that explores the archetypal language of the tarot through material transformation and reinterpretation.

At the core of this series is an investigation into the enduring symbolic power of archetypes. Each photograph reimagines a traditional archetype, not as a fixed icon but as a living form, capable of adaptation, distortion, and renewal. Some images draw directly from historical visual references, preserving recognizable motifs and compositional structures, while others diverge, allowing for the emergence of new, sometimes unexpected interpretations.

The wet plate process plays a critical role in this exploration. Its inherent unpredictability, its textures, imperfections, and tonal depth mirrors the ambiguity and multiplicity of meaning found within tarot itself. Each plate holds both intention and accident, reflecting the tension between control and chance that underpins both divination and image making.

Through Terra Exotica, I seek to examine how archetypes persist across time while remaining open to reinterpretation. The series invites viewers to engage with these symbols not as static relics, but as evolving entities, shaped by context, material, and perception.