In Search of Meaning

In Search of Meaning is a photographic exploration of the fluid boundaries between self, other, and nature. In this series, faceless human bodies hold mirrors that reflect their surrounding natural landscapes, dissolving the distinction between the individual and the environment. By concealing the face—the most recognizable marker of identity—the mirrors transform into portals that merge the self with the external world. This visual merging suggests that our identities are not isolated or fixed but are continuously shaped by our environment and our relationships with others.

Nature is not merely a backdrop in this work; it becomes an active subject. The organic forms reflected in the mirrors intertwine with the human body, emphasizing the fluidity of boundaries between body and landscape. This interaction reflects how the natural world imprints itself upon us, influencing our emotions, behaviors, and sense of self. The mirrored surface becomes both a space for self-reflection and a lens that reveals the impact of the world around us, inviting viewers to consider how their environments shape their identities.

Philosophically, In Search of Meaning draws inspiration from Viktor Frankl’s belief that meaning is essential to human existence, particularly in the face of suffering and uncertainty. This series visually interrogates that search for meaning by asking where and how identity is constructed—within the self, through relationships, or in dialogue with the external world. The mirror serves as a metaphor for this existential search, offering both clarity and distortion. It compels viewers to confront the ways in which they perceive themselves and others, while simultaneously highlighting the impossibility of fully grasping the self in isolation.

Psychoanalytic theory, particularly Jacques Lacan’s concept of the mirror stage, informs this exploration. Lacan suggests that self-identity is first recognized through the reflection of the body in a mirror—a moment of both recognition and misrecognition. In this work, the mirror reflects fragmented landscapes rather than the human face, symbolizing the fragmented and shifting nature of identity. This invites viewers to question how much of their self-image is shaped by external influences and how the “Other” becomes a part of the self.

In Search of Meaning is ultimately an invitation to pause and reflect. It challenges viewers to reconsider the boundaries between self and other, body and environment, and to question how these divisions shape our understanding of who we are. By blurring these lines, the project speaks to the universal human desire to find meaning in the spaces between connection and separation, self and world.