Where is the border between one person and another? What really defines closeness?

Our families’ models of intimacy often become a burden that we carry throughout life. It starts with our parents, who are the prototypes of all our future relationships. As an artist, I’m interested in visual and conceptual investigations of this complex subject, one that affects the whole of humanity.

“Silent Dialogues” is my most recent ongoing project.

In it, I portray people in moments of psychological encounter with themselves, and with those who are close to them. During these moments of self-reflection and internal dialogue, a certain truth about the relationship is revealed.

All the subjects are real people in real relationships, but the scenes are moderately orchestrated in order to bring out the essence of their particular bond. My work process is very intuitive and my aim as an artist is to create the conditions that will allow these moments of revelation to occur in front of my camera. To that end, all the photographs are shot in the subject’s own intimate environment.

—Viktoria Sorochinski

This sensitive and intimate photoessay was selected as a series finalist in the LensCulture Portrait Awards 2016. Discover more inspiring work from all the 39 winners, finalists and Jurors’ picks.