Paper Shelter

• Prize
  Honorable Mention
• Photographer
  Alina Araslanova, Ukraine
• Studio
  LIK
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/al_araslanova?igsh=MTVjdndobzUyemZ3MA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

The photo series “Paper Shelter” was created under the influence of the war in Ukraine between 2023 and 2024. The photographs tell a personal story of growing up in emigration—losing one’s home, school, and close surroundings.
The series explores the theme of adolescence, showing the desire to hide one’s face and conceal emotions. It speaks about loneliness, experiencing changes within oneself and in the world around. This series helps to understand and visually follow the journey from complete emotional suppression to gradual acceptance, understanding of personal boundaries and femininity.

Alina Araslanova born in 1981 in Kharkiv, Ukraine in a family of Engineers.
Father admired photography with a film camera, and one of the family's favorite pastimes was developing the film in a dark room. In 2001-2006 received a higher education as a post-research engineer. Worked in marketing and advertising for 16 years. After 2018, started studying at the Kyiv School of Photography. Graduated Kyiv School of Photography in 2018. From 2018 to 2025 made five photo projects: "Autism", "Frozen Pregnancy", "On the bride side", "Sense of War", "Paper Shelter".

Awards In September 2023 received an honor “Vienna International Photo Award” for a photo from the series “Sense of War”.
Took first jury prize in competition of Swiss Photo Club (SPC) for a photo from the series “Paper Shelter” in Vienna in July`2024.
In September 2024 received an honor “Vienna International Photo Award” for a photos from the series “Paper Shelter” and "Frozen Pregnancy".
In December became bronze winner BIFA 2024 for the series “Paper Shelter” and “Autism”.
In December received an honor BIFA 2024 for the series “Sense of War” and “Frozen Pregnancy”.

In June 2024, works from the "Paper Shelter" series were presented at Photo Basel in the book "100 Contemporary Ukrainian Photographers."

Participated in the international photo fair Kyiv Photo Fair in 2019.
In 2021 took part in the exhibition of contemporary photography “New Eye” with works from the series "On the bride side" at the “New Art” gallery in Kyiv.
With works from the series “Paper Shelter” took part in the following fairs:
- art exhibition “Il potere delle parole” in November 2024 at the Medina Gallery in Rome;
- photo fair ST-ART (Strasbourg - art) in November 2024.
- art exhibition “Gifts of art” in December at the Gallery Cael in Milan 2024.
- at the festival of Ukrainian avant-garde photography 'Deformation of Reality' in the Kyivphotos-Hall gallery, in April 2025.

A personal photo exhibition featuring the series 'Paper Shelter' took place in the LIK gallery in Vienna, in February and March 2025.