The Splitting of the Chrysalis & the Slow Unfolding of the Wings

This series by Yorgos Yatromanolakis was made in reaction to a period of intense introspection, sparked by a series of traumatic events in his personal life.

Ending up back home in Crete, he found comfort in nature and the idea that, like a caterpillar in a cocoon, he might emerge transformed. This dark time is reflected in his images, which were mostly taken at twilight and etched out in inky blues and blacks. However they are also shot through with light, suggesting transition rather than total blackness. Within the narrative of the series, this experience is intertwined with the biological processes of transformation in nature, which are taking place in parallel and with which the photographer coexists and identifies. While the project was first published as a book and exhibited as framed photographs, Foam Talent 2020 is the very first occasion in which Yatromanolakis has transformed his work into an immersive audiovisual installation.