Das Unheimliche

Das Unheimliche is a photographic series that explores the uneasy intersection between the human and the artificial, inviting reflection on the emotional implications that arise when human-made creations begin to replace living beings.
The project originates from a childhood memory — the silent gaze of a porcelain doll whose lifelike features seemed to hold a trace of consciousness. This perception, resurfacing while observing AI-generated portraits of non-existent people, led to a broader investigation into the nature of the uncanny.

Drawing on Freud’s concept of the uncanny and Masahiro Mori’s uncanny valley theory, the work resonates with historical and cultural representations of artificial life, from the ancient myth of Pygmalion to contemporary cinema.
The series captures the subtle unease evoked by what appears alive but is not, questioning notions of authenticity and our perception of what constitutes a living presence.

The portrayed figures embody a visible duality: on one hand, they reflect the ideal of perfection and control typical of dolls, with delicate features and composed gestures; on the other, they convey a silent tension — a trace of absence behind apparent vitality.

The series has been exhibited at the Xposure International Photography Festival (Sharjah, 2024) and the XI Foto Art Festival (Bielsko-Biała, 2025).