TITLE: The Layers of Self

"The Layers of Self" explores the non-linear nature of human identity through multiple exposure portraiture. These images visualize how we exist as composite beings—collections of our past experiences, memories, and various versions of ourselves that coexist simultaneously.
The darkness surrounding the subject represents both the forgotten past and the uncertain future, while the overlapping facial expressions capture the emotional states that reside within us at any given moment. The elderly subject invites contemplation on how time shapes identity, yet challenges the notion that aging is merely a process of loss. Instead, these portraits suggest an accumulation—a gathering of selves that creates a rich, multidimensional presence.
I've employed a technical approach that mirrors the philosophical question at the heart of this work: Where does one version of ourselves end and another begin? The transparency and ghost-like qualities of the overlapping images suggest the fragility of memory, yet there remains a solid presence at the core—something unchangeable that persists throughout our lives.
By working in black and white, I've stripped away the distractions of color to focus on the essential qualities of light, shadow, and form. This reduction emphasizes the emotional resonance of the face and allows the viewer to concentrate on the mysterious multiplicity captured within each frame.
These portraits challenge our understanding of time as linear and identity as fixed. They invite us to recognize the complex layering that exists within each person—the younger selves that still reside within the older, the multiple perspectives we hold simultaneously, and the beautiful complexity of human consciousness that cannot be captured in a single, frozen moment.

AUTHOR: Marta Losiewicz (Poland)

Hi, My name is Marta and I'm a passionate, fine art photographer.
Photography has been with me for my whole life. Together with music and painting it allowed me to express myself.