I started self-portraits, during a solo trip of several months through Iceland and the United States. At each stage of my trip I had voluntarily chosen to stay several weeks in isolated places, surrounded by nature, and with very few connections with the outside world (limited access to a car to go out and to the internet)
My self-portraits are a way of situating myself in a certain space and time
Like a need to check my own presence…
It was during these few months that I felt alive and vibrating in contact with nature. Without thinking too much about it, I began to photograph myself with my film camera and sometimes my Polaroid camera. A frozen moment, as if not to forget these intense moments of presence to myself and to nature. Nudity, present sometime in my photos, is a way to feel closer to nature. Also to show my nudity in a neutral way. Without any intention to objectify my body. Since this trip, in 2018, I have continued to photograph myself regularly.
Despite the simplicity of this action, which is to take pictures of myself using a tripod or a mirror, I realize that this gesture is potentially feminist and activist. Creators of images and films have this power to represent women in as many facets as possible. For a long time, we had little form of female representation. Today, it seems to me that we have a greater variety of female representation through photos and films. It is just the beginning?
In this selection of self-portraits, I represent myself in different spaces. These pictures speak of these spaces, of my relationship to these spaces, to my body. These photos are snapshots of an emotional state.
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I started this little project last year when Alli was living her last week in Barcelona after spending there some years. I thought of the people I care in Barcelona, and how most of them are artist, at least in their mind and way of life. Barcelona has been for me my highway to the "artist world". Coming from a small town in the ouest of France, and then studying in various middle size city in France. My first "real life" work after my master degree was in Barcelona. I accepted this work because I knew how Barcelona was thanks to an internship I did there before during my studies. It the kind of city who makes me live 100%. Sometimes,it is going to fast. A place where I now have my very close friend. And thanks to this city, I have been able to work on beautiful and amazing artistic projects. For me it is this magical place where the universe sent me all the people I needed to meet. But since the Corona virus crisis, and the quarantine is still not over yet when I am writing those words, things are more uncertain than ever. I am about to take the decision to take a break from Barcelona, see what else the world has to offer me. Maybe the best place on earth for me now right now is to be back to that small town in the west of France? Who knows? Barcelona gave me the strengths and the creative energy I needed. Now, I feel that any decision I take, any place I choose to live. I will keep this beautiful energy. Here, is a small visual story of an artist. An artist who spent some years in Barcelona. And was about to live to an other city when I took those photos... The story of Alli in August 2019:
You can look at Alli's work on her instagram here
And here for an other photo shootée Alli on the same rooftop on 2018
I met Alma and Arrian on the set of a music video. Alma is a dancer. She mesmerized the audience when she went up on the bar and did her moves. But what really moved me was to see Alma and Arrian together. Not long after this, I asked them if they would be up to take part of the project in my room. For me it was my first time shooting in this new bedroom I just rented. And for them it was also their first "Intimate" photo shoot. We started this shoot with some tea and some vodka. Those moments are for me magical, a way to get to know individuals and to laugh a lot! I also wanted to tell a sweet and romantic story of love between girls. Looking back at when I was a teenage girl, when I was reading romantic stories in my favorites books, it was always between boys and girls. I just wish I could read books with different kind of romance back then... So here is my story of Arrian & Alma :
PERIODS
.a portion of time .a chronological division .the completion of a cycle .a point . used to mark the end 
a personal exploration of the meaning of "periods"
Concept & art direction by Solène Milcent Performers: Mirva Kaarina Sound: LaSonotheque
The 25/02, I went to the park, first day of my periods. I wrote on my journal a few lines about what I felt on my period being outside, in the park with the vegetation surrounding me... Later that day, I was working on my computer in the coffee downstairs my place. The pains from my belly started to spread in my whole body. I felt ashamed. Run to the toilet and fainted for a few seconds. I got inspired by that day, and the sentences I wrote. We went to the park with Mirva, playing around with our cameras, and the light.
.the completion of a cycle
Being in quarantine now since a few days already, I am confronted to my "Inside", without any wait out (for now). Time is slower, the city seems like a village. I can sleep without earplugs at night. Every day, I go to the rooftop, and just gaze at all this space around. This space that I can see, but cannot reach. The experience we are living right now as individual, is shared by millions of humans at the same time. Maybe this moment can be taken as a blessing for the humanity. Something almost unbelievable is happening. Deep sadness, fear for our loved ones as the same time as deep moment of truth... The Unknown
The lines I wrote for this edito a few week ago seems just ironic right now... Being given this time... I oscillate between state of happiness, sadness, tranquility, and madness sometime. When the "outside" is missing and I only have the "inside" to explore. Listening to Mattia Vlad Morreo while working on this article
For this editorial I have been really inspired by Orlando by Virginia Woolf, and the movie inspired by this book. Orlando, with the great Tilda Swinton, directed by Sally Potter. Here is a new notebook that I stared, because I found the old ones too messy... I am still using the old ones for messy notes and this one for organized notes and moodboard.
I speak from this place within me where there is no time, nor gender and no humans. A fluid world, a world that follows the nature paths, a world where we do not have to hide, a place where emotions are transparent.
I NEED TO STOP
AND LOOK INSIDE ME
WE ARE GODS A big thank you to the people behind this project :
Concept,Photography and Art direction by Solène Milcent Model is Guillermo Miranda / Instagram: @mirandaguillermo and Myriam / Instagram: @myriammama Make up by Anna González Schneider / Instagram: @makeuplikexnnx In collaboration with : The location : Filippo Ioco Studio Instagram: @filippoiocostudiogallery The Brand : Bijoux Indiscrets / Instagram: @bijoux_indiscrets |
