Artist
Adrian Tudose
Adi Tudose (b. 1987, Bucharest) is an artist-photographer based in Budapest. After completing his studies at The National University of Theatre and Film, he further
expanded his artistic vision through experiences in Milano. He is pursuing an MA in Photography at Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, where his practice continues evolving. For him, the camera is far more than a tool—it is a medium through which he connects with the world around him. The streets become dynamic, ever-changing spaces where unpredictable encounters unfold. Immersing himself fully in these environments, Tudose approaches his subjects with empathy and sensitivity, capturing their lives with care and revealing emotional depth and vulnerability.
Tudose can transform fleeting, transient moments into cohesive compositions, bringing order and harmony to the everyday. Through this process, he taps into the
subconscious, offering viewers a sense of unity within the chaos. His seamless blending of form and content sets him apart, creating simple yet mysterious representations. His work is characterized by cohesive framing, a rich interplay of diverse elements, and tuned figure-to-ground relationships. Tudose’s work offers an invitation to reflect on what photography can reveal about the human condition. Each frame carries layers of emotional and sociological insight, capturing the essence of his subjects while creating space for the viewer to connect with them on a personal level. Each photograph becomes more than a visual representation; it transforms into a deeply felt emotional experience.
Empathy and vulnerability lie at the core of Tudose’s creative process, enabling him to form deeper connections with his subjects and uncover meaningful relationships that might otherwise remain hidden. His work seeks to evoke genuine emotions, delving into themes of social and gender representation while fostering a sense of belonging. In doing so, he transforms emotional disconnection into moments of peace and truth.
As an artist, Tudose is committed to long-term projects that tell meaningful stories, ones that challenge him to confront fear, embrace vulnerability, and transform his personal experiences into shared human truths. His photography doesn’t just document—it transcends, offering symbols of connection and hope in a chaotic world.
Pink Fish of Insomnia
Living in a foreign country has changed the way I see things. The experience of being an outsider grants a certain freedom, and while I may not be certain of where I belong, I no longer feel the need to define myself by that question. Moving from one place to another has transformed me, leading me to understand that freedom exists in the fluidity of space and identity I aim to offer people access to something deeper, a space where they can find peace and connection. I am no longer in this pursuit. What began as an escape has become a way to engage more deeply with the world. The act of getting lost in a city I barely know mirrors my process - an experience of exploration, guided by intuition and emotion. The act of moving to different places can be a profound transformation - an opportunity to reclaim a sense of belonging and find meaning through vulnerability and adaptability. This creates a dreamlike sense of duality, where the boundaries between humans and their environments become a narrative of resilience. It reveals a sense of disconnection that often arises when we are in unfamiliar spaces. Often, I find myself questioning the deeper reasons behind how I see the world. My process is straightforward, rooted in my insecurities and vulnerabilities. It reflects how I feel the world, rather than how I see it. Everything is connected to a emotional imbalance that causes me to feel disconnected from the world, but in engaging with it, I find a sense o connection. There is a link to a different kind of reality—one that is less distracted, and more truthful. It helps me reconnect when words fail to capture the essence of what I feel. In this way, I create not out of choice, but from a relentless drive to express and explore, to transform the tangled emotions within me into something tangible. It is not merely a choice; it’s a must—a deep urge to make sense of the world and communicate what words cannot. How we look at the world and observe it determines what we actually see. I seek to reinvent the ordinary - identifying patterns and making unusual connections between things that seem unrelated. This title Pink Fish of Insomnia doesn’t just describe an external condition, but rather speaks to a deeper, more emotional experience of being disconnected, searching for belonging, and navigating complex feelings of vulnerability. It's about being in a space of constant motion, without fully understanding the path, yet being driven by the need to find meaning or sense of peace.
Adrian Tudose’s work is deeply rooted in empathy and the human experience. His ability to capture fleeting, transient moments in urban spaces transforms everyday encounters into meaningful, structured compositions. By engaging with themes of emotional vulnerability and social representation, his photography offers an introspective look at the human condition. His contribution to the European emerging photography scene lies in his capacity to bridge documentary and artistic photography, presenting images that are both aesthetically rich and emotionally profound. Tudose's approach challenges viewers to reconsider the role of photography as a medium for storytelling and human connection.
Natalia Ciobanu, with her long-standing dedication to portraiture and travel photography, contributes a vibrant and emotionally charged perspective to contemporary discourse. Her project "Between Color and Expression" explores the depth of human emotion through striking use of color and composition. By focusing on the authenticity of her subjects, Ciobanu offers a visually poetic reflection on inner states and identity. Her work resonates with a broader European audience by celebrating diversity, introspection, and the universal language of color. She reinforces the significance of portraiture in contemporary photography, emphasizing its power to evoke personal and collective narratives.
Toma Hurduc’s documentary approach provides a critical, thought-provoking examination of the socio-political landscape in the Balkans. His project "Two Suns" delves into the region’s post-communist struggles, exploring the tensions between inherited ideologies and the rapid expansion of consumerist culture. By blending factual and imaginative elements, Hurduc crafts a layered narrative that questions the construction of memory and the perception of reality. His use of black-and-white 35mm film adds a timeless and surreal quality to his imagery, reinforcing the stark contrasts present in Balkan societies. His work contributes to contemporary European photography by documenting underrepresented histories and offering a raw, unfiltered perspective on socio-political change.
Together, these three photographers redefine contemporary photography through their commitment to emotion, identity, and societal reflection. Their selection for Futures Photography 2025 highlights the evolving landscape of European photography, where personal narratives and critical discourses merge to shape a more inclusive, thoughtful, and visually compelling future.
Photo Romania Festival's 2025 nominations were curated by:
Andrei Budescu | Photographer and university professor, former Dean of UAD (University of Art and Design), Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Panagiotis Papoutsis | Photographer and former Artistic Director of Ioannina Photo Festival, Greece
Dorel Găină | Photographer and university professor, former Dean of UAD (University of Art and Design), Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Sebastian Vaida | Photographer and Artistic Director of Photo Romania Festival, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
