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Reflecting on my experiences with loneliness, I noticed I felt lonely among others, afraid of not fitting in. Conforming to others' views only led to disconnection.
Wanting to remain invisible, while simultaneously longing to be seen.
My graduation project 'Where Have I Been Hiding?' explores experiencing loneliness in the presence of others and the longing for human connection: wanting to remain invisible, while simultaneously longing to be seen. This tension silenced my own voice, influenced by others and afraid to be different, ultimately blocking me from forming deeper connections.
Through photography, I search for what lies behind the mask I created for myself. By repeatedly pressing images of loved ones and strangers onto fabric until the ink fades, I give shape to the impact of fearing opinions of others. In this project I research this fear and take a step towards getting to know myself again: an attempt to repair the connections I thought I had lost.
About Thomas Luigi Fontein
"With my camera I build a bridge between my inner- and outer landscape. I want to research the cycles and processes we go through as humans and the relationship between our inner experience and our outside environment. How can we learn about ourselves by observing the world around us?"
