I turned 30 and was completely lost. I suddenly realized my own
finiteness. I realized the fragility of life, youth and beauty. This
thought, which now seems so obvious, came to me out of the
blue.
My microcosm is changing in parallel with a dramatically changing
macrocosm. I need to adapt to reality, but instead I’m trying to
escape. Making art is a form of escapism. Through photography, I
create my own universe. I transform my anxiety, fears, obsessions
and shame into pictures.
The older I get, the faster time seems to go. The fear of death is
the fear of the unknown. It’s impossible for many to imagine non-
existence. I make self-portraits because I am often alone, and
know myself well. Creation is the opposite of death, and each self-
portrait is the answer to the question ‘Am I still alive?’
Maria Pleshkova (b. 1986) is a multidisciplinary artist working in photography, video, and writing. In her work, Pleshkova explores the boundaries of self-portraiture. Her life and her art are inseparably connected: she lives her life through her art, making intimate and self-revealing projects. She explores the Microcosm, the human universe, and certain moments of the highest intensity of life. Pleshkova’s projects are always autobiographical, but the autobiography is just an excuse to talk about things that are universal and common to all humankind.
Awards 2017 Prix de la Photographie, Paris (Px3): Bronze Prize - Professional Fine Art Digitally Enhanced
2016 Dostoevsky Photography List (the list of 50 most interesting contemporary photographers of Russia and Ukraine according to Dostoevsky Photography Society, Netherlands)
2015 Photovisa, International Festival of Photography: First Prize in Multimedia Section
2015 Young Russian Photographers 2015: Laureate
2015 Photo Annual Awards: Honorable Mention
2014 International Photography Awards: Honorable mentions
2014 Prix de la Photographie, Paris (Px3): Silver Prize - Fine Art
2014 Prix de la Photographie, Paris (Px3): Bronze Prize - Portraiture
2014 Photo Annual Awards: Honorable Mentions
2013 La Quatrième Image. Photo fair prize: 2nd prize
2013 International Photography Awards: Honorable mentions
2013 American Photography 29
2013 China International Press Photo Contest: Honorable mention - War & Disaster News Stories
2013 China International Press Photo Contest: Honorable mention - General News Stories
2012 International Photography Awards: Honorable Mention
2012 The Inge Morath Award: Finalist
2012 Young Russian Photographers 2012: Laureate
2012 China International Press Photo Contest: Gold prize - Nature & Environment News Stories
2012 China International Press Photo Contest: Bronze prize - Art Culture & Entertainment News Stories
