TITLE: Beyond the Self

Beyond the Self is a photographic exploration of states of heightened devotion within spiritual practices across Taoism, Hinduism, Sufism, and Vodun. The work focuses on moments of intense physical and emotional expression, often understood within their traditions as forms of trance. Across cultures, these states reveal similarities in gesture, presence, and surrender — where control fades, the body becomes a medium, and the individual reaches toward something deeply felt yet difficult to define. The selected photographs were made in India, Thailand, Benin and Pakistan.
This body of work forms part of Stories of the Sacred, a long-term documentary project exploring how faith is expressed through beliefs, ceremonies, rituals, and religious festivals across cultures.

AUTHOR: Bart Rubik (Poland)

Polish documentary photographer exploring how faith is expressed through beliefs, ceremonies, rituals, and religious festivals across cultures. He develops the long-term project Stories of the Sacred, documenting humanity’s relationship with spirituality and transcendence. His work also examines broader social issues, focusing on how communities navigate tradition, identity, labor, and change, often in remote environments. His photography has been published and exhibited in Poland.