Photography student a finalist at the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize Awards
Third-year IMA student, Katya Ilina, won third place at the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2021 (external link, opens in new window) . Presented by the National Portrait Gallery, Ilina’s piece David (external link, opens in new window) , from her series Rosemary & Thyme (external link, opens in new window) , was chosen and exhibited in the new arts hub Cromwell Place in London, England from November 10th to December 22nd, 2021 while the National Portrait Gallery is closed for renovations.
I seek to challenge socially constructed barriers creating divisions between people by highlighting everyday human experiences
Katya Ilina’s photograph, David
The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize is an internationally recognized award that celebrates contemporary portrait photography.
Ilina submitted two pieces for consideration – Freddie, and David, the latter of which would eventually earn her a third place win. “I felt that those works were the strongest in terms of formal characteristics, colour, composition, light, and also reflected the idea behind the story in the clearest way,” she says.
Freddie, by Ilina
Both Freddie and David are part of Ilina’s series Rosemary & Thyme. According to her website (external link, opens in new window) , the photographic project examines masculinity through body positivity and celebrates the beauty of fluidity in physical form. “Explorations of gender representation can often overlook the complicated masculine body image, relying on views of the physically and emotionally strong male. Being ‘in control’ of oneself and life’s circumstances continue to dominate Western ideologies and expectations of men,” it states.
Finding inspiration through social themes and cultural influences
As a photographic artist working between portrait, fashion, and documentary genres, Ilina says her art explores themes of identity expression, gender, and the human condition in the context of social and cultural change.
Third-year IMA Photography student, Katya Ilina via her website (external link, opens in new window)
Given the heritage behind the National Portrait Gallery and the history of previous winning works, this recognition encourages me to continue working on the stories that inspire me and further pursue my career goals
She shares that personal experiences are one of the primary inspirations for her work.
“I was born and raised in Russia, a society composed of many cultural influences from both the East and West,” shares the artist. “I have since spent several years in the UK, Honk Kong, Japan, Korea, the US, and Canada. These encounters with different cultures, from a subjectively female perspective, have offered different perspectives to my work. I seek to challenge socially constructed barriers creating divisions between people by highlighting everyday human experiences.”
Idea-driven visual storytelling
Studies in Image Arts have certainly influenced Ilina’s approach to photography. “I like that in our photography classes, we focus on developing idea-driven projects backed up by research and photographic history,” she says. “I think this approach is key for anyone who is interested in pursuing fine art photography and participating in similar competitions.”
Winning third place at the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize is a significant honour for the artist. “Given the heritage behind the National Portrait Gallery and the history of previous winning works, this recognition encourages me to continue working on the stories that inspire me and further pursue my career goals,” she says.
For students interested in exploring photography, Ilina would encourage them to learn about the business side of the photography industry and decide early on what motivates them to pursue the art. “Be curious,” she says, “and learn from other artists by studying photography books, visiting galleries, watching artist talks, and studying art history. All of this will make your photographs more nuanced and layered.”
Find more of Ilina’s work on her website (external link, opens in new window) , Instagram (external link, opens in new window) , and online exhibition (external link, opens in new window) .
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