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Ornella

Nominated in

2023

Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center

Lives and Works in

Ornella Mari is a Belgian-born, Hungarian-Italian photographer based in Budapest. Her work explores themes of identity, femininity, and self-perception, often delving into the emotional and psychological landscapes of her subjects. Through a nuanced approach to portraiture, she captures the complexities of human experience, from moments of vulnerability to personal transformation. Mari’s journey with photography began as a means of self-exploration, gradually evolving into a broader investigation of societal expectations and internal struggles. Her images balance intimacy with universality, inviting viewers to reflect on themes of self-acceptance, resilience, and the fluid nature of identity. Rooted in both conceptual and documentary influences, Mari’s photography serves as a visual dialogue between the external world and inner realities. Whether through staged compositions or candid moments, her work seeks to challenge perceptions and offer new ways of seeing oneself and others.

Projects

2024

A days, B days

“A Days, B Days” is a visual exploration of the cyclical nature of human experience. It delves into the contrasting rhythms of inner states — the flow of clarity and ease on “A days” versus the heaviness and entanglement of “B days.” The project reflects the constant shift between mental clarity and the struggle against internal barriers, showcasing how the simplest actions can become obstacles when trapped in a dense state of mind. Through this photographic series, I capture the essence of this duality: the dynamic tension between lightness and weight, openness and confinement. The images serve not only as a documentation of emotional cycles but also as a reminder that the “B days” are not permanent. There is always a way out, sometimes found in the smallest of movements. In its visual narrative, “A Days, B Days” invites viewers to witness the human soul’s rhythm, urging an awareness of the possibility for change — that even in moments of mental and emotional stagnation, transformation is within reach.

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2024

A days, B days

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2023

Through Hardship to the Stars

This project delves into the powerful role photography played in my personal evolution and how it became an essential tool in shaping my self-image and body perception. As I navigated the challenges of growing up in a complex cultural environment, I often found myself grappling with deep insecurities that affected my relationship with both my appearance and identity. Photography became my escape — a way to step outside of the harsh internal narratives I had about myself and see my image from a more detached, objective point of view. At the outset, my self-portraits were intentionally ironic, using humor and exaggeration to distance myself from the pain I felt. These early images were a way of acknowledging my discomfort with how I saw myself, but they also became a way to confront and transform that discomfort. Over time, these staged, over-the-top portraits evolved into more genuine, raw photographs that captured moments of vulnerability in my daily life. These candid images were less about performing for the camera and more about honestly engaging with my feelings and experiences. Through this process, I began to confront the struggles I had with my identity and self-worth. The photos allowed me to explore various aspects of my personality, expressions, and emotions that I had previously hidden or ignored. As I became more comfortable with myself through the camera’s lens, I started to embrace the beauty in my imperfections and acknowledge the strength in my vulnerability. The act of photographing myself helped me develop a healthier relationship with my body, moving beyond the critical, external voices that once dominated my self-image. It was no longer just about how I appeared but about how I felt and the deeper truths I discovered about my own inner strength. Through the art of photography, I not only saw my external image in a new light but also began to appreciate the complexities and layers of my inner world, ultimately leading to a more empowered and authentic sense of self.

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Ornella

was nominated by

Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center

2023

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Each year every member of the FUTURES European Photography Platform nominates a set of artists and projects to become part of the FUTURES network.

Nominated by Gabriella Csizek, curator of the permanent Capa exhibition at Capa Center, Balázs Turós’ work explores themes that emerge from his personal development and his life's journey, and the sensitive expression of these themes in series’ of photographs. We have chosen him as a FUTURES Talent for his high-quality work and consistently performed projects. A graduate of the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Turós has been awarded the József Pécsi Photography Scholarship three times.

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Tamás Don, chief curator at MODEM Center for Modern and Contemporary Art, nominates Zsuzsanna Simon, a graduate of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts. Since university, Simon’s series have focused on feminism and the social issues affecting women, and she has continued to work with a strong emphasis on the female body and societal expectations in her post-graduate projects too. There are few artists in the Hungarian photography scene who have been so focused on an important social issue for as long as Simon.

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Nominated by Emese Mucsi, curator at Capa Center, Balázs Szigligeti brings into play the explosive, overdriven, shiny-glazed visual characteristics of camp aesthetics, where he 'cools down’ the loudness of camp, exploiting the possibilities of black-and-white image creation. Having worked in the fashion industry since the age of 16, Szigligeti makes autonomous projects which create a special tension between the topic and the way it is displayed.

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Nominated by Borbála Szalai, director of Trafó Gallery, Mari Ornella makes photographs in which control and loss of control appear with equal emphasis. Her latest series, Wanna Be My Lover, deals with the search for female identity and the issues when women's self-definition is shaped by men. The project originates from personal traumas, and sees the artist focus on her own relationship with men such as her father, the characteristics of borderline personality disorder, and the consequences of uncontrollable emotional states.

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Nominated by István Virágvölgyi, artistic director at Capa Center, Richárd Kiss approaches the world and the photographs that seek to represent it with a highly analytical vision, sifting through millions of images on the internet and then appropriating them for his work. Asking questions such as ‘does it make sense to take the two-millionth photo of the Eiffel Tower?’, Kiss pulls the rug out from under the online photo services we use on a daily basis.

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