Attila Ataner
MAELSTRØM
Attila Ataner received a thorough photographic education at an early age while living as a refugee in North Africa in the 1980s. By the time he reached Grade 6, he was already deeply immersed in the fundamentals of film photography.
Over time, he realized that his camera was not just a tool for documenting the external world but a means of seeking something more elusive—mystery and the fleeting glimmers of the sacred. In each of his projects, he strives to deepen and expand this nascent spirituality, gradually re-enchanting the world around him.
Since photography serves as a spiritual path for him, Minor White remains one of his foremost artistic influences. He is equally inspired by Kandinsky’s vision of the spiritual in art and greatly admires the films of Andrei Tarkovsky.
Over time, he realized that his camera was not just a tool for documenting the external world but a means of seeking something more elusive—mystery and the fleeting glimmers of the sacred. In each of his projects, he strives to deepen and expand this nascent spirituality, gradually re-enchanting the world around him.
Since photography serves as a spiritual path for him, Minor White remains one of his foremost artistic influences. He is equally inspired by Kandinsky’s vision of the spiritual in art and greatly admires the films of Andrei Tarkovsky.
Attila Ataner "Maelstrøm"
Subscribe and read about photography! This will help us to produce more quality material exclusively for our subscribers!
By clicking on the button, you consent to the processing of your personal data
MAELSTRØM
The images in this collection are part of a broader, personal journey. They form a fragmentary narrative woven together from various bits and pieces of my dreamworld. They are a kind of conceptual-symbolic documentation of my inner life.
I live with a chronic, often very difficult illness. As I grow older, I ought to find myself "improved," more experienced, confident, wiser, etc. Instead, I grow weary and weak, drained, ever less assured, ever more hesitant. These feelings carry over into the night, where they disrupt my sleep and disturb my dreams. These emotional states often have a distinct visual flavour, and this project is largely an effort to interpret and to externalize the images that come at me, absent rational form, seemingly out of nowhere. This is my way of processing feelings of self-loss, atrophy, and fear, but also, on a more positive note, these images reflect a simple recognition of life change, a statement of hope, and an expression of gratitude.
The images in this collection are part of a broader, personal journey. They form a fragmentary narrative woven together from various bits and pieces of my dreamworld. They are a kind of conceptual-symbolic documentation of my inner life.
I live with a chronic, often very difficult illness. As I grow older, I ought to find myself "improved," more experienced, confident, wiser, etc. Instead, I grow weary and weak, drained, ever less assured, ever more hesitant. These feelings carry over into the night, where they disrupt my sleep and disturb my dreams. These emotional states often have a distinct visual flavour, and this project is largely an effort to interpret and to externalize the images that come at me, absent rational form, seemingly out of nowhere. This is my way of processing feelings of self-loss, atrophy, and fear, but also, on a more positive note, these images reflect a simple recognition of life change, a statement of hope, and an expression of gratitude.
"These feelings carry over into the night, where they disrupt my sleep and disturb my dreams."
Most of these images were created over the course of the past two years, with the generous help and collaboration with friends, family, models and dancers.